
J FROIM 

TRIGONOMETRICAL STJRTEYS. 

Biillerstake George alakeChamplain, 
J. A.COOPER , c.i: . 



REFERENCES. 



I. 


Putnam captured, \7^ 


2. 


Four-mile post. 


3. 


Half-way Brook. 


4. 


Road to Luzerne. 


5. 


French Mountain. 


6. 


Fort George. 


7. 


Fort William Henry. 


8. 


Rattlesnake Hill. 


9. 


Shaw's Bay. 


10. 


Tea Island. 


11. 


Dunham's Bav. 

• 


12. 


Harris Bay. 


13. 


Long Island. 


14. 


Dome Island. 


15. 


Fourteen-mile Island. 


16. 


Hen and Chickens. 


17. 


Ganouskie Bay. 


18. 


Half-way Island. 


19. 


Rattlesnakes' Den. 


20. 


Sabbath Day Point. 


21. 


Blair's Bay. 


22. 


Anthony's Nose. 


23. 


Rodgers' Slide. 



LAKE GEORGE 



AND 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN, 



FROM THEIR 



First Discovery to 1759' 



" You are unnecessarily severe, sir. It is not the business of a historian 
either to explore or make a topographical survey of the country about which 
he writes. All that you have a right to expect of him is, that he shall faith- 
fully collect together and chronicle all the existing facts." 

FOREST ARCADIA. 



BY B 






SECOND EDITION. 



NEW YORK: G. P. PUTNAM & SON. 

ALBANY : DURKEE & JENKINS. 

1869. 

If 



INTRODUCTION. 



By a careful reading of the French and English official 
accounts, as they are placed side by side in that marvel 
of historic wealth, known as the Documentary and 
Colonial History of New York, we arrive at a proper 
knowledge of events, which had either been wrongly 
located, or exaggerated, or obscured. The author has 
made this the foundation of the following narrative. He 
also acknowledges his indebtedness to Bancroft, Kip, 
Bell, Trumbull, Headley, Graham, Sparks, 
Watson, Fitch, Van Courtland, the delightful 
writer of the life and times of Sir William Johnson, 
the eloquent author of Hochalaga — '^ and the authorities 
there cited," not omittingthe amiable Dr. O'Callaghan 
ever ready to assist the anxious inquirer after truth. As 
far as practicable, he has endeavored to give the very 
language of the time, thereby rendering more life-like 
the scenes delineated here, than he would have been 
able to do in any other manner. 

To those whose inclinations take them over and 
through these gate-ways of the country, the guide books 
furnish accurate and reliable information. The railroad 
to Fort Edward, and thence the stage-coach, even now 
being supplanted by the steam-car to Glen's Falls or 
from Saratoga via the Adirondac or Wilderness railroad 



4 INTRODUCTION. 

to the romantic hills of Luzerne, thence by coach eleven 
miles over the Indian trail to the head of the Lake ; these 
are the routes from the South. On the North, coming 
from Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, the Green Mountains, 
Adirondacks, Montreal, the lines of travel converge to 
Burlington, Rouse's Point, or the inimitable Foquets, 
on the Plattsburgh battle ground. At either of these 
points, taking the fine steamers of the Lake Champlain 
company, the traveler passing "through by daylight" 
looks upon the scenes replete with historic lore. Cum- 
berland Head, Burlington Bay, Split Rock (Rock 
Regio), Chimney Point, Crown Point, Mount Defiance 
and Ticonderoga, furnish each its story of interesting 
events in early American history. 

From the latter place the transition is easy, across the 
''carrying place," and through the intrenchments of 
Montcalm, to the limpid Lake George, on which the 
Minnehaha, under the direction of Captain HARRIS, 
like a shuttlecock, each day faithfully plies its vocation 
to and from the laughing waters of Carillon, and the 
grass-grown ruins of Fort William Henry. 

The hotels dotted in here and there, like so many 
icebergs set in a background of emerald, furnish 
unexceptionable comfort to the sojourner. 

Every American, at least once in his life, should visit 
Lake George and Lake Champlain, and view for him- 
self the scenes made historic by the events imperfectly 
described in the following pages. 

B« C. B. 

Luzerne, June, 1868. 



INDEX. 



PiGE. 

Abercrombie, 192, 227 

Aix-la-Chapelle, peace of, 65 

Amherst, Lord, 232 

Angell, Capt., 138 

Baubassin, 65 

Blanchard, Col. Joshua, 118 

Bloody Pond 126 

Bourlemaque, 159, 238 

Bradstreet, 215, 223, 227 

British claim of country, 15 

Canaghsioue (Two Rocks), ... 33 

Carillon, 211, 238 

Cartier 11 

Champlain, 11,15 

Chinanderoga, 35 

Corlear, 20 

Columbiere, 143 

Conochquiesie, 104 

Council of the Indians at Al- 
bany, .. 72 

Council of the Indians at Fort 

Johnson, 87 

Corbierie, 156 

Crown Point, 54, 244 

Cruyn Punt, 33 

Dcllins, Godfrey 16 

De Carquiville, 57, 62 

De Courcelles?' expedition, ... 19 

De Joumonville, 72 

De Tracey's expedition, 20 

Denonville, 22 

Dieskau, 115, 123 

Doolittle, Captain, ,. .. 136 

1^ 



PAGE. 

Expedition against Fort Wil- 
liam Henry, 151 

Eyre, Captain, 110 

First American Congress 1690, 27 

Fletcher, Governor, 43 

Fonda, Jelles, 134 

Fort Amherst, 235 

Fort Ann, 30, 49 

Fort Clinton, 57. 64 

Fort Edward, 30, 110 

Fort Frontenac, 228 

Fort Miller 29, 109 

Fort Nicholson, 49 

Fort Orange, 37 

Fort St. Frederick, 54, 240 

Fort William Henry,. ... 129, 146 

Four-mile post, 228, 235 

Frontenac, 37 

Galway, 40 

Gatieuonde, 61 

Gebault, , 11 

Glenn, Captain Sanders,. .. 24, 31 

Greenfield Center, 40 

Haviland, Colonel, 196 

Half-way brook, 22S, 235 

Hebecourt, 194, 239 

Heudrick 80, 119. 127 

Hocquart, 242 

Howe, Lord George, 197 

Ingoldsbey, Major, 39 

Irocoisia, 16 

Iroquois expedition, 1687, 23 

Johnson, Sir William, 63, 87 



J 



INDEX. 



PAGE. 

Kagliewughtiona (Red Head), 96 
Kanordoro (The Narrows), ... 33 

Kayaderosseras, 76 

Kryn, 23 

La Corne, 57, 229 

Lake George, expedition to, . . 107 

La Prairie, 33, 35 

La Salle, 22 

Landonniere, 11 

Little, Captain, 194 

Luzerne, 64 

Lydiiis, John Henry, . 16, 105, 109 

Marin 55,150,155, 230 

Maurepas, 54 

Montcalm, 151 

Monroe, Colonel George, 172 

Nicholson, 48, 51 

Nicklas, 138 

Normauds, 10 

Ogharonde (Wind Mill Point), 33 

Oswegatchie, 69 

Parker, Colonel John, 157 

Putnam, Israel, 133, 136, 140, 207, 

230 

Quackenboss, Cybrant, 155 

Read, Captain, 136 

Regaud de Vaudreuil, 63 

Regio Rock (Regiochne), , 16, 242 

Repentigny, 56,62 

Right of France, 10 

Rogers, Robert,. 132, 135, 141, 144 

Rogers, 195, 230 

Rutherford, Major John, 201 

Ryswick peace, 47 

Saratoga lake (Kayaderoga), . 34 
Saraghtoga fort, 48, 55 



PiGE. 

Scale of prices, 18 

Schenectady, massacre of, — 24 

Schuyler. John, 32, 33, 39, 49 

Schuyler, Peter,.. 25, 29, 34, 39, 48 
Seneca Indians' expedition,.. 22 

St. Helene, 23 

St. Sacrament lake, 35, 37, 42, 63, 

114 

St. Pierre, 70 

St. Ours, 154 

Staats, Barent, 50 

Stark, John, 144, 146 

Stillwater 29 

Skeene, Philip, 200 

Syms, Captain, 133 

Tenacharison, 70 

Thoday, Michael 139 

Thompson, Sergeant, 140 

Ticonderoga,. . . 31, 34, 35, 143, 217 

Tionderosa (Fort Hunter), 38 

Townshend, Colonel, 239 

Two Rocks, 149 

Utrecht, peace of, 52 

Valrenne, 36 

VanEpps, 39 

Vaudreuil, 49 

Verazzani, 11 

Washington, George, 70 

Webb, Gen. Daniel, 166 

Whitehall, ... 30, 35 

Williams, Col. E. P. H.,., 115, 123 

Winslow, Colonel Seth, 131 

Wilton 40 

Winthrop, Fitz John, 28, 32 

Wood creek, 56 

Young, Colonel John, 180 



C^" For a portion of the illustrations in this book, the 
Author is indebted to the kindness of Harper Brothers, 
Publishers of Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution. 




CO 

k 

O 

o 
o 

>^ 

H 

<3 




CHAPTER I. 

From the discovert op the country to 1690 — French claims — 

EARLT navigators — BRITISH CLAIMS — DE COURCELLES' EXPEDI- 
TION — DE TRACEY, LA SALLE, MARQUETTE AND HENNEPI.V — AN 
ATTACK OF THE 8ENECAS — IRRUPTION OP THE IROQUOIS — ATTACK 
OP THE MOHAWKS ON CHAMBLAY — DE ST. HELENE — BURNING OP 
SCHENECTADY — FIRST AMERICAN CONGRESS IN 1690. 

^^11 AT eventful memories cluster around 
tliy hoary liills, Lake Geokge ! They 
are interwoven witli the earliest history 
of our beloved country, reaching far 
back to the time when truth vanishes into tra- 
dition. Forts William Henry and Carillon, the 
salients of the two most powerful and most 
civilized nations of the globe, over whose 
scarp and counterscarp nature has thrown her 
protecting mantle of forest and turf — venerable 
in your ruins, ye stand at either gateway of 
these classic waters, monuments of a heroic 
age, and of the wrestlings of giants for the pos- 
session of a continent. 

Beneath your shadow the bones of thousands 
lie in unrecognized though honorable dust, while 
every glen, bay, island and mountain, furnishes 
some legend which has made their names house- 
hold words in American homes. 



8 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

To-day the shores of Horicon furnish fashion- 
able resorts for the refined or the curious, who 
bask away their summer hours, perhaps careless 
or ignorant of the great events that once trans- 
pired beneath their feet or within their vision. 
Yet the possession of these places has engaged 
the attention of kings, cabinets and parliaments. 
The best blood of two great nations has been 
freely spent, and millions of treasure expended, 
for their conquest and defense. 

Armies have crossed each other's track upon 
the ocean, and have pursued strange and varied 
paths on lake and river, and through forest, to 
struggle for their possession. Tribes of red men 
from the far north and the far south, marshaled by 
civilized genius, have met in hostile array under 
their walls, and around their base. Kival and 
foreign flags have waved alternately over their 
battlements. A thousand bugles have called har- 
monious echoes from the mountains, while High- 
landers from McGregor's clan, Indian chieftains, 
royal regiments commanded by high-born noble- 
men, mingled with the sons of the Green Moun- 
tain and the Connecticut and I^ew Jersey valleys, 
have answered to their call. Thy peaceful shore 
has seen the course of caniage and misery, 
the butchery of the tomahav/k, the wasting of 
a siege, the wretchedness of woman. It has 



LAKE CHAIVIPLAIN. \) 

witnessed the feast of human flesh, for which 
these demons had prepared themselves hj drink 
from skulls fresh filled with blood. It has heard 
the soft voice ''of the Jesuit priest, as with 
reverence he elevated the host and performed 
the most sacred and ancient rites known to the 
religious world. It has listened to the single 
prayer ofiered for the whole people by the ven- 
erable chaplain of Massachusetts, while the de- 
scendants of the Puritans stood up uncovered. 
It has seen the simple rites of Indian sacrifice of 
first fruits to the Great Manitou, while the forest 
orator harangued his brethren on the blessings 
of that heaven which cowards could not enter. 

Protestant and Catholic, English and French, 
white and red men, the rifle, the tomahawk, the 
cannon and scalping knife, the keel boat and 
canoe, noble and base born, extremes the most 
opposite, passions the most violent, have met 
and struggled here for the mastery. 

They fought for the possession of a continent 
reaching from the frozen zone to the tropics — 
extending from ocean to ocean — and in com- 
parison to which the domain of either power 
was but " a patch upon the earth's surface." 

All, all are gone now. From out the ashes 
a third power has arisen to which the Red Cross 
of England and the Lily of France are alike 



)> 



10 LAKE GEORGE AND '^ 

indifferent. From mountain to mountain 'the 
American eagle utters the scream of Libekty. 
Love in its purity, friendship in its faithfulness, 
are reflected from the placid bosom of the lake. 
The early industry of freemen is upon its bor- 
ders, and the morning sun-beams, which drink 
the dew-drops from the flowers on the hill-tops, 
catch also the sounds which thrill the heart of 
humanity, and proclaim the tidings of equal 
freedom for the race. 

A proper history of this interesting locality 
is incomplete without embracing the entire sec- 
tion of country from l^ova Scotia around to the 
Ohio. Such is too comprehensive for this work. 
It will be limited to an account of what occurred 
between Chamblay and the Mohawk Yalley. 
Even then the fear is, that it will be too prolix 
for the reader. 

The right of France to the country of the 
Iroquois, which embraced in part the valleys of 
Lake Champlain and St. Sacrament, was based 
on an established maxim existing among Euro- 
pean nations, that the first discoverers who 
planted the arms of their government upon 
aboriginal soil acquired thereby the property of 
that country for their respective nation. 

In 1504, l^ormauds discovered the bank of 
Newfoundland. 




JEAN VERRAZZANI. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 11 

In 1523, in virtue of a commission from 
Francis I, Jean Yerazzani took possession of 
" all the territory between Florida and Hudson's 
Bay." 

In 1534, James Cartier, at the inlet of Gaspe, 
raised a lofty cross which bore a shield with the 
French arms and, an appropriate inscription. 
He thence discovered the great river of St. 
Lawrence, and sailed up its channel till he could 
discern land on either side.* 

In 1535, Gebault and Landonniere, having 
gone to Florida by authority of Charles IX, " to 
inhabit and cultivate the country," founded the 
Carolinas, and built a fort on the May river, 
which they called Fort Charles — now Charles- 
town. 

In 1609, eleven years before the landing of 
the Pilgrims, Samuel Champlain was in com- 
mand of the Canadian colony. In 1609 he dis- 
covered Lake Champlain,-]' Lake St. Sacrament, 
and, as he says, went as far as the country of 
the Iroqnois. 

* Bancroft. 

f The Indian name of Lake Champlain is Canadire 
Quarante, " The lake that is the gate of the country." " Kan- 
gatare " is the Mohawk name for lake. 



12 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

Concerning tlie first encounter of the Indians 
with the whites, between Lake George and 

Crown Point, Champlain says : 

" I left tlie rapids of tlie river of the Iroquois on the 2d of 
July, 1609. All the savages began carrying their canoes, 
arms and traps overland, about a league and a half, to avoid 
the current and force of the rapids. This was quickly 
effected. They reviewed all their force and found 24 canoes 
with 60 men. After having completed their review, we 
continued our journey as far as an island, three leagues 
long, covered with the finest pines I ever beheld. 

"On coming within two or three days' journey of the 
enemy's quarters, we traveled only by night and rested by 
day. Nevertheless, they never omitted their usual super- 
stitions to ascertain whether their enterprise would be suc- 
cessful, aiid often asked me whether I had dreamed and 
seen their enemies. I answered, no ; and encouraged them, 
and gave them good hopes. ? Night fell, and we continued 
our journey until morning, when we withdrew into the 
picket fort, which they had built, to pass the remainder of 
the day there. About ten or eleven o'clock I laid down, 
after having walked some time around our quarters, and, 
falling asleep, I thought I beheld our enemies, the Iroquois, 
drowning within sight of us in the lake near a mountain ; 
and, being desirous to save them, that our savage allies told 
me that I must let them all perish, as they were good for 
nothing. On awaking they did not fail, as usual, to ask me 
if I had any dream. I told them, in fact, what I had 
dreamed. It gained such credit among them that they no 
longer doubted but they should meet with success. 

" At nightfall we embarked in our canoes to continue our 
journey, and, as we advanced very softly and noiselessly, 
we encountered a war party of Iroquois on the 29th of the 
month, about ten o'clock at night, at the point of a cape 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 13 

which puts into the lake on the west side. They and we 
began to shout, each seizing his arms. We withdrew 
toward the water, and the Iroquois repaired on shore and 
arranged all their canoes, the one beside the other, and 
began to hew down trees, with villainous axes, which they 
sometimes got in war, and others of stone, and fortified 
themselves very securely, 

" Our party, likewise, kept their canoes arranged the one 
alongside the other, tied to poles so as not to run adrift, in 
order to fight all together, should need be. We were on 
the water about an arrow-shot from their barricades. When 
they were armed and in order, they sent two canoes from 
the fleet to know if their enemies wished to fight ; who 
answered they "desired nothing else," but that just then 
there was not much light, and we must wait for day to dis- 
tin^niish each other, and that they would give us battle at 
sunrise. This was agreed to by our party. Meanwhile the 
whole night was spent in dancing and singing, as well on 
one sido as on the other, mingled with an infinitude of 
insults '-ind other taunts, such as the little courage they 
had, hcw powerless their resistance against their arms, and 
that when day would break, they should experience this to 
their ruin. Ours, likewise, did not fail in repartee ; telling 
them they should witness the effects of arms they had never 
seeii before, and a multitude of other speeches as is usual 
tiu a siege of a town. After the one and the other had sung, 
dfWiced and parliamented enough, day broke. My com- 
pauicns and I were always concealed, for fear the enemy 
should ^*ee us, preparing our arms the best we could, being, 
however, separated, each in one of the canoes. After being 
equipped witi: light armor, we took each an arquebus and 
went ashore. I saw the enemy leave their barricade ; they 
were about 200 men, of strong and robust appearance, who 
were coming slowly toward us, with a gravity and assur- 
ance which greatly pleased me, led on by three chiefs. 
2 



14: LAKE GEORGE AND 

Ours were inarching in similar order, and told me that 
those who bore three lofty plumes were the chiefs, and that 
there were but these three, and they were to be recog-nized 
by those plumes which were considerably larger than those 
of their companions, and that I must do all I could to kill 
them. I promised to do what I could, and that I was very 
sorry they could not clearly understand me, so as to give 
them the order and plan of attacking their enemies, as we 
should indubitably defeat them all ; but there was no help 
for that ; that I was very glad to encourage them, and to 
manifest to them my good will when we should be engaged. 

" The moment we landed, they began to run about two 
hundred paces toward their enemies, who stood firm, and 
had not yet perceived my companions, who went into t>. .; 
bush with some savages. Ours commenced calling me '■ 
loud voice, and, making way for me, opened in two 
placed me at their head, marching about twenty p; 
advance until I was within thirty paces of the ener 

" The moment they saw me they halted, gazing 
I at them. When I saw them preparing to sT 
raised my arquebus, and aiming directly at or 
chiefs, two of them fell to the ground by th' 
of their companions received a wound r 
afterward. I had put four balls in my r 
witnessing a shot so favorable for them 
dous shouts that thunder covild not '^>'. ' 
yet there was no lack of arrows on 
The Iroquois were greatly astc 
killed so instantaneously, notw 
vided with arrow-proof armor 
wood. This frightened the' 
reloading, one of my comp 
which so astonished the^ 
that they lost courage, 
field and their fort, hi'" .e 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 15 

forest, whither pursuing them I killed some others. Our 
savages also killed several of them, and took ten or twelve 
prisoners. The rest carried off the wounded. Fifteen or 
sixteen of ours were wounded by arrows; they were 
promptly cured. 

" After having gained the victory, they amused themselves 
plundering Indian corn and meal from the enemy ; also 
their arms which they had thrown down in order to run the 
better. And having feasted, sung and danced, we returned, 
three hours after, with the prisoners." 

In 1611 and 1612 lie ascended the St. Law- 
rence to Lake Erie, Detroit, and Lake Huron, 
and for a number of years prosecuted the fur 
trade at the place where Boston now stands. 

Following these were the Jesuit missions, who 
for forty years built and resided in the five 
Iroquois cantons until they were " burnt out " 
by the machinations of the English. Tliey 
extended west to Niagara, Detroit, and down 
the Ohio and the Illinois to St. Louis. 

The British claim of dominion upon the 
Ohamplain valley extended up to the neighbor- 
hood of the river St. Lawrence. 

It was based, 

1. On the title of the Dutch, " from the St. 
Lawrence to the Delaware river." 

2. On the assertion of that right in the grant 
of King Charles to the Duke of York, " for all 
of the lands west of the Connecticut river." 



V 



16 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

3. The treaty of the Five N^ations with the 
Governor of l^ew York, by which, in consider- 
ation of his protection, they submitted to the 
sovereignty of the King of Great Britain. All 
the country to the south of the St. Lawrence 
was described by French writers as belonging 
to the Five Nations. Lake Champlain is named 
^''Mere des Iroquois^'' and the lands on the east 
Bide of the lake, now Yermont, were called 
''Irocoisiay 

4t. The treaty of Utrecht, by which the French 
King expressly recognized the sovereignty of 
Great Britain over these nations and the lands 
held by them. 

5. The exercise of sovereignty by the patent 
granted to Rev. Godfrey Dellins,"^ under the 
seal of New York, in the year 1696, of lands 
described in an Indian deed to him, which compre- 
hended a tract extending from Saraghtoga along 
the Hudson river to ""Hegio IloGk^^\ twenty 
miles north of Crown Point, and which grant 
the legislature afterward abrogated on account 
of its excessive amount.:]: 

* Dellins was the first Dutcli minister settled in Albany. 

f Split rock. This grant, it is claimed, did not extend 
into Vermont, but np the Hudson River to a point opposite 
Regio Rock, {^ee Historical Magazine, February, 1868.) 

X In April, 1750, John Henry Lydius, a citizen of Albany, 
and his wife Genevieve Masse (a half-breed), made affidavit 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 17 

The policy of both nations appears to have 
been to cultivate assiduously the friendship of 
the dusky tribes. In this the French were the 
most successful, and their influence extended to 
the end of Lake Superior, and embraced all of 
the country between the Hudson's Bay and the 
Onondaga council fire. 

But while Canada was settled, and its gov- 
ernment was carried on, as a strictly military 
colony, the Dutch, and after them the English, 
were essentially a trading nation. Albany was 
the great center of Indian trade and barter, and 
its commerce extended to Montreal and the 
French Indians, to the great grief of the Mo- 
hawks, who always claimed that by this means 
their implacable enemies, the Algonquins and 
Adirondacks, found never-failing supplies of 
powder and lead. 

"that they had frequently heard, both from the Mohawk and 
Caknawaga Indians, during the previous twenty-five years, 
that the land northward of Saraghtoga, as far as the Rock 
Rogeo, did and does belong to the Mohawks, which rock is 
situated ten leagues north of Crown Point — ' Rogeo ' being 
the name of a Mohawk Indian who was drowned near that 
rock long before the Christians came among them, from 
whence the Mohawks called the rock Rogeo," It was a 
superstition of the Indians that in passing the rock they 
should cast a stone or other article toward it for good luck. 
On Tryon's map it is called ''Point Begiochne" 
2* 



18 LAKE GEORGE AND 

The following was the scale of prices in the 

Indian trade at Montreal and Albany, in 1689 : 

The Indian pays for At Orange. Montreal. 

8 pounds of powder, one beaver. four beavers. 

A gun, two do five do 

40 pounds of lead, one do three do 

Blanket of red cloth, one do two do 

Four shirts, one do two do 

Six pairs of stockings, one do two do 

Six quarts of rum, one do six do 

For the generation previous to the advent of 
the European race, the Iroquois had waged a 
merciless war against the Algonquins on the 
St. Lawrence. The arrival of Champlain with 
the hitherto unknown fire-arm turned the for- 
tunes of war with the northern tribes. 

The Iroquois transferred their jealousy and 
their enmity against the French allies, with 
wdiom they w^ould never make a permanent 
peace. 

Champlain and the succeeding Governors of 
Canada assisted the northern nations in all their 
wars, or retained them as allies. It became a 
great object of the French to get possession of 
the port of New York. For this purpose cabi- 
net councils were held and numerous plans laid ; 
and it is by reason of the efforts made by the 
respective nations and tlieir dusky allies, for the 
purposes of conquest or defense, that the entire 



LAKE CHAMPLAUnT- 19 

region, from Forts Orange and Schenectady to 
Cumberland Head, has become tlie classic 
ground of America. 

On the 9th of January, 1666, an expedition 
was fitted out at Quebec, under the veteran De 
Courcelles, with five hundred men, whose object 
was to proceed to the Mohawk valley and 
destroy the villages there. They marched on 
snow-shoes, and each officer and man carried 
from twenty-five to thirty pounds of biscuit, 
besides his clothing, arms and ammunition. 
Sledges drawn by dogs, and carrying supplies, 
accompanied them. They purposed to give 
the Indians such a punishment as should induce 
them to put a stop to their incursions, and live 
at peace with the French settlements. A more 
difficultor a longer march than that of this little 
army is scarcely to be met with in history. 

In addition to the awkwardness of the snow- 
shoes, it was necessary to make a journey of 
over four hundred miles, to cross lakes and 
rivers, to sleep on the snow in the midst of the 
forest, and to endure the cold of a rigorous 
winter. 

On the third day out, many had their noses, 
ears, fingers or knees frozen, and some, wholly 
overcome by the cold, were carried to the place 
where they were to pass the night. Still they 



20 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

pushed on, until, on the 9th of February, they 
arrived within two miles of Schenectady. 

Here a party of sixty fusileers was drawn 
into an ambuscade of two hundred Mohawks, 
who at one volley killed a lieutenant and eleven 
men, and wounded seven others. 

The next day the wounded were sent down 
to Schenectady, where they were hospitably 
entertained and cared for by the citizens, 
through the interposition of Corlear, while 
wine, peas and bread were obtained for the 
troops. Grateful for such unexpected, if not 
undeserved hospitality. Governor Courcelles 
invited Corlear to visit him at Montreal, which 
invitation was accepted. On his journey 
thither he was accidentally drowned in Lake 
Champlain. He was so great a favorite with 
the Indians that they were accustomed to desig- 
nate the Governor of New York by the title of 
« Corlear." 

On the twelfth the French camp suddenly 
broke up, and they fell back to Lake Cham- 
plain, closely pursued by the Mohawks, who 
however only took three prisoners. 

In the same year, on the 14tli of September, 
an expedition of six hundred, under the com- 
mand of M. De Tracey, embarked in three 
hundred light batteaux and bark canoes, with 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 21 

two small pieces of artillery. ^Notwithstanding 
the care taken to prevent discovery, they found, 
on their arrival at the Mohawk castles, the vil- 
lages were abandoned, but were full of grain 
and provisions. At the last was a triple palisade 
twenty feet high, flanked by four bastions, and 
stored with prodigious quantities of provisions 
and an abundant supply of water to extinguish 
fire w^hen necessary. A few old persons and 
the remains of two or three savages of another 
tribe whom they had half roasted, were all that 
were found. After celebrating mass, singing 
the Te Deum and planting the cross, they fired 
the palisades, cabins and villages, destroyed the 
stores of corn, beans and other produce, and 
returned by the route they came. 

Through the influence of the Colonial Govern- 
ment, acting under advice from the Duke of 
York, peace was made between the French and 
Indians, which continued with but little inter- 
ruption for a period of over twenty years. This 
interval was employed by both the French and 
English in consolidating their settlements and 
in prosecuting their trade with the Indians. 
It was at this time that La Salle, Marquette, 
Hennepin and other Franciscans, bearing the 
calumet and cross, discovered the prairies of the 
Illinois, and ascended and descended the Missis- 



22 LAKE GEORGE AND 

sippi. In 1679, La Salle encamped at Niagara, 
and amid the fire of artillery and the chanting 
of t]ie Te Deum, first launched a bark of sixty 
tons on the placid waters of Lake E rie.* 

In 1685, with a colony of two hundred and 
ten persons, he landed on tlie lovely Bay of 
Mataojordo, and in the name of Louis XIY. 
took possession of Texas, carved upon her stately 
trees the royal arms of France, and by no 
treaty or public document was that right ever 
relinquished, except in the general cession of 
Louisiana to the United States under the Jeffer- 
son ti'eaty. 

In March, 1684, a band of two hundred 
Senecas attacked and pillaged a party of four- 
teen French traders who, in seven canoes, were 
proceeding down the Illinois river to the fort 
at St. Louis, with sixteen thousand pounds of 
merchandise. 

In consequence ostensibly of this, an expedi- 
tion was fitted out at Montreal, under Gov. 
Denonville, to attack and conquer the Senecas in 
Western New York. But the real purpose was 
for the protection of tlie trade of the Western 
Indians in the Ohio and Illinois country, and 
also " for the establishment of the religion wliich 

* La Salle's first vessel was named " La Griffin." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 23 

will never spread itself except by the destruc- 
tion of the Iroquois ; and of commerce and the 
[French] King's power over all North Amer- 
ica."* In this they were successful, having 
burned three castles, without suffering much 
loss, and established the fort at Niagara. 

In 1687 an irruption of some sixty Iroquois 
was made down Lake Champlain into the 
French settlement of Chamblay, which they 
destroyed, killing many of the inhabitants and 
bringing away captives. 

In 1689, in the month of August, a force of 
nine hundred Mohawks landed on the island of 
Montreal, and nearly destroyed the whole set- 
tlement, carrying off one hundred and twenty 
prisoners, besides killing two hundred, some of 
whom were bound, roasted alive and devoured. 
They retained possession of the island till the 
middle of October. 

In the month of February, 1690, war having 
been declared between England and France, a 
party of two himdred and ten men, under the 
command of Lieut. Le Moyne de St. Helene, 
left Montreal and passed through the lake to 
attack Fort Orange. The Indians were led by 
a great Mohawk chief of the name of Kryn, 

* Colonial History, vol. iii, page 330. 



24 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

who had removed from the Mohawk Yalley to 
La Prairie in Canada, in 1674. 

Arriving at the place where the road turned 
off to Schenectady, they, under advice of the In- 
dian scouts, who were familiar with the passes of 
the whole country, took the latter road, and 
arrived at the settlement at 11 o'clock at night of 
the 9th of February. The town was built of an 
oblong form, with a wall around it, and to which 
access was had by two gates, which the squaws 
pointed out, one of which was found wide open. 
Into this they entered, and, after surrounding the 
town they gave the war-whoop and rushed on. 
M. de Manteth at the head of a detachment, 
reached a small fort, which, after some resistance, 
was entered, set on fire, and all who defended it 
were slain. The sack of the town immediately 
began, which lasted for two hours, and all who 
resisted were massacred. The house belonging 
to the Hev. Peter Tassemaker of the Dutch 
Reformed Church, was ordered to be saved, but 
as it was not known, it was burned, and he was 
killed. The dwelling of Capt. Joannes San- 
ders Glen, the Mayor of the place was also 
saved, in consequence of the good treatment 
the French had formerly received at his hands ; 
also that of a widow who had six children, to 
which place M. de Montigny had been carried 



LAKE CHAMPLATN. 



25 



when wounded. All the rest, amounting to 
some eighty well-built and well-furnished houses, 
were burned. The return march commenced 
with thirty prisoners and sixty good horses, of 
which last sixteen reached Montreal, the rest 
having been killed for food. The loss of the 
French was twenty-one, of whom but two were 
killed at the sack of the town. The number 
of the inhabitants destroyed was sixty men, 
women and children. 

They were pursued to Lake Champlain by 
Major Peter Schuyler, with about two hundred 
whites and Indians, who took fifteen French 
prisoners and carried them off to their castles. 




Regiochne. 




CHAPTER II. 

WiNTHROP'S EXPEDITION, 1690 — CAPTAIN JOHN SCHUTLER'S ATTACK 
ON CHAMBLAT — MAJOR PETER SCHUYLER'S EXPEDITION — THE DE 
SCENT OP THE FRENCH INTO THE LOWER MOHAWK VALLEY — PURSUIT 
BY SCHUYLER — BATTLE IN WILTON, SARATOGA COUNTY. 

'IRED of these midnight attacks upon 
defenseless and outlying settlements, 
with the attendant barbarities of the 
merciless savage, the colonists began 
to see the necessity of union, and to enact 
measures of common defense. On the first day 
of May, 1690, in the Fort of New York, the 
First American Congress was held. 

It was there agreed, that, while Massachusetts 
with a fleet attacked Quebec, an army should 
proceed by way of Lake Champlain to the 
capture of Montreal, and thus complete the 
conquest of Canada. 

Hereafter the solitudes of the forest were to 
be broken by the measured tread of civilized 
armies, not to cease until the cross of St. George 
or the banner of St. Louis should wave over the 
entire continent ; nor even then until far down 
in the ages the bird of freedom, from its lonely 
eyrie, should witness the birth of a new nation^ 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 27 

springing, like Pallas from the head of Jove, 
armed, full grown, and founded upon the prin- 
ciple of UNIVERSAL EQUALITY FOK THE HUMAN 
KACE. 

The command of the expedition was given to 
Fitz John Winthrop, of Connecticut, a member 
of the council of Governor Andros, and who 
was commissioned to be a major-general for this 
purpose. 

On the 14th of July, General Winthrop 
set forward from Hartford with some troops, 
and in seven days, through the almost impass- 
able wilderness, he reached Albany. Two com- 
panies, under Captains Johnson and Fitch, had 
preceded him. "Here" he says, he found, the 
design against Canada poorly contrived, and 
little prosecuted, all things confused and in no 
readiness or position for marching ; yet every- 
body full of idle projects about it." 

The command was composed of 400 troops 
from New" York, three companies of 135 men 
from Connecticut, thirty Kiver Indians, and 150 
Mohawks. What a sorry array compared to 
the magnificently appointed thousands who, 
sixty-eight years after, swept through Lake 
George, under Abercrombie and Lord Howe, 
and found " glory and a grave " under the bat- 
tlements of Ticonderoga ! 



28 LAKE GEORGE AND 

On the 30th the New England troops and 
the Indians moved up four miles, and encamped 
upon the flats (Watervliet). 

August 1, quartered at Stillwater, " so named 
because the water passes so slowly as not to be 
discovered ; while above and below, it is dis- 
turbed and rageth, as in a great sea, occasioned 
by rocks and falls therein." 

August 2d. The general moved forward to 
Saraghtoga (Schuylerville), about fifty miles 
from Albany, where was a block-house and some 
Dutch soldiers. At this place, he was joined 
by Mr. Wessels, recorder of Albany, and a com- 
pany of the principal gentlemen, volunteers 
from that city. He here got letters from Major 
Peter Schuyler, the mayor of Albany, who had 
preceded him with the Dutch troops, to the 
effect that he was up to the second carrying 
place (Ft. Miller) making canoes for the army. 
Thus far '^the way had been very good, only 
four great wading rivers, one of them (the 
Mohawk) dangerous for both horse and man." 

August 4th. Divided the provision, thirty- 
five cakes of bread to each soldier, besides tlie 
pork, and moved up eight miles (to Ft. Miller) ; 
the Dutch soldiers carrying up their supplies in 
their birch canoes, and the Connecticut troops 
carrying them on horses. Here "the water 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 29 

passetli so violently, by reason of the great falls 
and rocks, that canoes cannot pass, so they wei*e 
forced to carry their provision and canoes on 
their backs a pretty ways to a passable part of 
the river." 

August 5th. The soldiers marched, with their 
provisions on horses, about eight miles, to the 
great carrying place (Ft. Edward), the Dutch 
having gone up in their canoes. 

August 6th. The command marched over 
the carrying place twelve miles, to the forks on 
Wood creek (Ft. Ann). The way was up a con- 
tinual swamp abounding with tall white pine. 
The New York companies excited the general's 
admiration at the vigorous manner in which, 
and without any repining, they carried their 
canoes and provisions across upon their backs. 

August 7th. Having sent thirty horses back 
to Saratoga for more provision, under command 
of Ensign Thomilson, the general passed down 
the creek with two files of musketeers, in bark 
canoes,"^ flanked by the Indians marching by 
the river side, commanded by Capt. Stanton, to 
the Ilautkill (Whitehall), where he encamped 



* The nations of the Algonquin family only made their 
canoes of birch, while the Iroquois made theirs of elm. 
They bought those of birch from other tribes. Lafiteau. 
3* 



30 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

with Major Schuyler and the Mohawk captains, 
on the north side of Wood creek. 

On the 9th of August, information came 
througli Capt. Johnson, who had been sent to 
Albany some days since to procure additional 
supplies of provisions, that the Senecas and 
other Indians, whom he expected to meet at the 
Isle La Motte, near the north end of Lake 
Champlain, had not left their country on account 
of the small-pox breaking out among them. 
The expression they used was, " that the Great 
God had stopt their way." The small-pox had 
also broken out in the army, and seriously 
reduced the available force.* 

In the meantime Major Schuyler had sent 
forward Capt. Sanders Glen (the same one who 
had been spared at the Schenectady massacre), 
with a scouting party of twenty-eight men 
and five Indians wlio .had proceeded as far as 
" Ticonderoga,"'!' where he erected some stone 
breastworks, and had been since the fifth of 
Auo;ust waiting for the expedition to come up. 



* It was claimed by the French that, of this expedition, 
400 Indians and 200 English died from the small-pox, 

f Tsinondrosa, meaning the " tail of the lake," referring 
to the portion of Lake Champlain south of Ticonderoga; 
also called by the early Dutch " Hautkill." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 31 

It was now found that the time was so far 
spent, the bark would not peel, so no more 
canoes could be made. 

The provisions were also giving out, and 
it was ascertained from the commissaries at 
Albany that no further considerable supply 
could be forwarded. It was, therefore, on the 
15th, resolved in a council of war to return 
w^ith the army. 

Orders were given to Capt. John Schuyler,* 
brother of the mayor, to proceed with a party 
of forty Christians and 120 savages down the 
lake, and inflict what damage he could on the 
enemy at La Prairie. The troops then moved 
back to the head of Wood creek, where Lieut. 
Hubbell died of the small-pox, and was buried 
with much ceremony. All the forts down to 
Saratoga were burnt with the boats and stores. 

On the 20th, the army, from which so much 
was expected, reached Greenbush, within sight 
of the city, having been absent just three weeks, 
and shortly after broke up and the men went 
home. Gen. Winthrop was put under arrest 
by order of Gov. Leisler for the failure of the 
enterprise, which, however, could not well be 
otherwise, considering the want of a commis- 

* Grandfather of Col. Philip Schuyler of the Revolution. 



32 LAKE GEORGE AND 

sari at, the breaking out of the small-pox, the 
inadequacy of the transportation, and the 
" failure to connect " of the remaining parts of 
the expedition.* 

Capt. Schuyler, according to orders, proceeded 
down the lake. IS^ear the swamps he met Capt. 
Glen on his return. He enlisted thirteen whites 
and five savages from this command, and pro- 
ceeded down to Canaghsione.f killing on their 
w^ay a couple of elk for food. 

On the 15th they encamped a mile beyond 
Cruyn Punt (Crown Point). 

16th. They advanced to Kanordoro (the IN'ar- 
rows), where the first guard was put on, and 
Parent Wemp named as its ofiicer. 

17th. Proceeded to Ogharonde (Windm.ill 
Point), where the plans were laid for the attack, 
and the Indian tribes pledged each other in 
strings of wampum and with a shake of the 
hand to stand by each other faithfully. 

23d. They reached La Prairie, and discovered 
tlie inhabitants in the fields eno^ao^ed in the har- 
vest. The savages, with a war-cry, fell on them 
and killed twelve persons and took fifteen men 

* The French claimed that the English dare not trust 
themselves in the elm canoes which the Indians had built. 

f The Two Rocks, ten miles below Whitehall. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 33 

and four women prisoners. Having burned six- 
teen houses and destroyed 150 head of cattle, 
they sought their boats and without loss returned 
to Albany. 

On the 26th they encamped at the "little 
Btone fort," being the first record of any consider- 
able force that had encamped at Ticonderoga. 

In the summer of 1691, Major Peter Schuyler, 
at the head of a party of 260 Christians and 
Indians, following in the track of his brother 
above, made a similar descent upon the doomed 
settlement of La Prairie. From the journal 
of his expedition, we learn that he marched 
June 21st, from Albany, twenty-four miles, to 
Stillwater. On the 21th his command pro- 
ceeded to Saraghtoga, sixteen miles ; and on the 
26th, to the first (Fort Miller) and second car- 
rying places (Fort Edward). On the 28th they 
marched twelve miles to the last carrying place 
(Fort Ann), and immediately commenced build- 
ing canoes. 

On the 1st of July they made eight canoes, some 
capable of carrying seven, eight and twelve men. 

July 9th came Gerrard Luykosse and Herman 
Yedder, from a party of eighty Mohawks, at a 
lake right over Saraghtoga (Saratoga lake*), 

* The name of Saratoga lake was " KayaderogaJ' 



34: LAKE GEORGE AND 

who went by the way of Lake St. Sacrament, 
and promised to meet us in six days at " Chin- 
androga" (Ticonderoga). 

14tii. We removed to the Falls (Whitehall), 
distant sixteen miles, and then encamped. 

16th. Moved from the Falls, and pitched our 
tents in the narrows of the drowned lands, 
twelve miles distant. 

17th. Advanced to Chinanderoga, and two 
hours after met the Mohauques, eighty in num- 
ber ; after which we fell to making canoes, the 
Christians having broken two of theirs coming 
over the falls.* 

19th. Advanced to Crowne Point, twenty 
miles. Here the Mohawks presented the major 
with a bundle of ninety-two sticks, to indicate 
their number; likewise the river Indians 
(Schagticokes), sixty-six sticks. 

On the 1st of August, having reached the 
La Prairie at the break of day, " they said their 
prayers," and marched over a corn field and 
along the water side till they came to a wind- 
mill, when, as they approached, the miller fired 
and killed an Indian, when one of the whites 
fired and killed the miller as he was attempting 

* This is the first record we have of a war party going 
through Lake George. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 35 

a second shot, so that his body hung half in and 
half out of the window. As they moved toward 
the fort, they were met by a party of militia, 
whom they easily repulsed, and who retreated 
into the fort with considerable loss. The reo-u- 
lars, under the command of St. Cirque, a veteran 
captain, here made an attack, but were received 
with a sharp iire, which resulted in the loss of 
the commandant and several other officers. 

Schuyler then fell back one hundred and fifty 
yards, into a ditch, which formed a sort of 
ambuscade, into which the French rushed, but 
were repulsed with considerable loss. Mean- 
while M. Yalrenne, with a detachment of one 
hundred and twenty men, had interposed 
betw^een Schuyler and the boats. Two large 
trees which had fallen down, served him for a 
breastwork. But Schuyler, forming his men, 
told them that there was no choice but to fight 
or die, and rushed on. They received the first 
volley, which killed and wounded the most that 
were lost in the expedition. In a short time the 
enemy retreated, and Schuyler reached the 
canoes and embarked, reaching Albany on the 
9th, with a loss of twenty-one killed and twenty- 
five wounded. 

The perpetual alarms which the inhabitants 
of Lower Canada suffered in these various 



36 LAKE GEORGE AND 

attacks, who, being taken alive, were tortured, 
roasted and eaten by the barbarians, or had 
their houses, cattle and crops destroyed, deter- 
mined Connt De Frontenac, now Governor of 
Canada, to strike such a blow npon the Mo- 
hawks as should compel them to sue for peace. 
Accordingly, in the month of January, 1693, 
he despatched from Montreal a force of six 
hundred and twenty-five men, including two 
hundred Indians, imder the command of De 
Manteth, with orders to proceed and destroy the 
Mohawk castles, and commit as great ravages 
as possible around Fort Orange — Albany. The 
party, like the expedition of 1666, were pro- 
vided with trains, provisions, ammunition, in 
short every thing necessary for so long a jour- 
ney on snow-shoes, through woods and over the 
frozen lakes and rivers. They were accompa- 
nied by twenty-five officers, some of whom, 
being the seniors of the commandant, accom- 
panied the expedition as volunteers. They 
crossed over the carrying place at Ticonderoga, 
and o:lided over the now silent and ice-bound 
waters of Lake St. Sacrament to its head. 
Then passing the base of the Luzerne range, 
they crossed the Hudson river near the Little 
Bay above Glen's Falls, and thence moved in 
the shadow of the Palmerton mountain, and 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 37 

over tlie Greenfield hills and the Kayaderosseras 
range, till, on the 8th of February, they came 
in sight of the first of the Mohawk castles, 
situate near Tribes' Hill. The first of them, in 
which were but five men and several women 
and children, was easily taken, as also a second 
one near by, where were still a lesser number. 
Marching on, they arrived, on the night of the 
18th, at Tionderosa (Fort Hunter), where the 
third castle was, and w^ithin which, but unsus- 
picious of the proximity of their implacable 
foes, was a party of forty warriors, who were 
having dances and singing war songs, being 
about to join a party organizing at Oneida. 
The noise having ceased, the gates of the fort 
were easily entered, and it was captured with 
the loss of but one Frenchman. Some twenty 
or thirty of the Mohawks, besides several women, 
were killed in the first assault and subsequent 
intoxication of the French Indians. Finally, 
the fort, carbines, provisions and what could 
not be removed, were destroyed, and the party 
returned to the first castle. The number of 
prisoners amounted to three hvmdred, including 
over one hundred who were able to bear arms. 
On the 22d, the last of the castles having been 
destroyed, including the provisions and clothing 
stored therein, the expedition retraced their 
4 



38 LAKE GEORGE AND 

steps. It was the intention of the French com- 
mander to push on to Schenectady and Albany, 
but they were overruled by the Indian chiefs, 
who represented that the number of prisoners 
they had, would prevent them from making any 
further advances. Meanwhile, by the escape 
of a young Dutchman named Yan Epps, who 
three years before had been taken a prisoner at 
the Schenectady massacre, on the first evening 
of the arrival of the French at the Mohawk 
fort information came to the English of the 
movements of the enemy. The whole country 
was alarmed. The same night, Lieut. John 
Schuyler and fifty-five horse marched from 
Albany to Schenectady. These were quickly 
followed by Major Peter Schuyler, who sent out 
scouts to watch the enemy's movements. On 
Saturday information was brought that the 
Mohawk castle at Tionderosa had been fired, 
which news being brought forward to Albany, 
Major Ingoldsbey sent forward a detachment 
of two hundred men under Captains Matthews, 
Killian Yan Kensselaer and others, who reported 
to Major Schuyler about two o'clock p. m. The 
next day, Monday, he crossed the river and 
started in pursuit of the enemy with two hun- 
dred and seventy-three men, and marched 
twelve miles and encamped. At one o'clock 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 39 

the next morning he broke camp and marched 
till six A. M., when he had advice that the Cana- 
dians were eight miles distant. Lieut. Yan 
Slvck and two Indians were sent out to recon- 
noitre, who, on their return, reported that the 
enemy had broken up their camp and were on 
their return homeward. At four o'clock p. m. 
the command marched to the place where the 
invaders had lain the night before, near Tribes' 
Hill. 

On Tuesday, the 15th, they received a re-en- 
forcement of 270 Mohawks, who had come down 
from the upper country, and the united com- 
mand marched about ten miles (to near Gal way) 
and sent spies to discover the enemy. Thursday, 
the 17th, marched in the morning to the place 
where the enemy had previously encamped (near 
Greenfield Centre). Two miles further on, they 
learned through a christian boy, a son of Arn- 
out, the interpreter, that the French were within 
three miles. They marched forward and en- 
camped within a mile of the enemy, and where 
the French had built a fort, Indian fashion (near 
Stiles in Wilton), and preparations had evidently 
been made to give them a warm reception. 
The officers were ordered to their posts, and 
the troops proceeded to fortify; which the 
French perceiving, with loud huzzas, imme- 



40 LAKE GEORGE AND 

diately sallied out of their intrenchments, and 
attacked them. They were beaten back into 
their fort, with a loss of eight men, when 
the English troops continued the work at 
their abattis. At this the French sallied 
ont again, but were once more forced back, 
with some loss. A third time thej attai^ked 
the works, but wdthout success, and with a 
loss in all of thirty-three killed and twenty- 
six wounded, among the former of whom was 
the commandant and four other officers. As 
soon as the engagement was over. Major 
Schuyler sent back for provisions, the men 
having had nothing to eat for two days. The 
next day, there was a storm of snow and wind, 
whicli covered up their tracks, and prevented 
any movement; but at ten o'clock a. m., the 
enemy broke up their camp and marched till 
evening. Major Schuyler detached sixty men 
and some Indians to follow them, which he was 
unable to do with the main body, by reason of the 
lack of supplies. The next day, Sunday, Capt. 
Simms arrived with a reinforcement of eighty 
men and provisions, which were immediately 
distributed ; those first served being ordered to 
the pursuit, with five biscuits per man. About 
four o'clock the men under command of Capt. 
Peter Mathews and Lieut. Schuyler came up 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 4:1 

witliin a mile of the enemy, when the orders 
were given to fall upon their rear, but the Indi- 
ans halted and refused to go forward, because 
they had information that, if they made the at- 
tack, the French would kill all their women and 
children, whom they had prisoners. After an 
hour had been thus wasted, the rest of the men 
got up, and the march was resumed, with the 
expectation of overtaking the enemy at the river 
side ; but a flake of ice, having lodged in the 
river, formed a bridge, while all was open above 
and below, across which the invaders passed in 
safety. The French marched in good order, the 
wounded and prisoners being in the center, and 
the picked troops in the rear. They arrived at 
Lake St. Sacrament on the 22d. The ice here 
was found to be all rotten, and the men in some 
places sank up to the waist. The Indians sepa- 
rated from the French to strike across to Lake 
Champlain. The prisoners, except about fifty, 
escaped. Two days after, having reached their 
depot of provisions, they found them entirely 
spoiled by the rain. Famine stared them in the 
face, and they even boiled the extra moccasins 
for food. They were four or five days without 
supplies, and two or three died. Messengers 
were sent to Montreal for assistance, and 150 

men, with provisions on their backs, went to 
4* 



42 LAKE GEORGE AND 

their assistance. Finally, on the 9th of March, 
they reached Montreal, having thrown away 
arms and blankets, and so wasted by fatigne 
and exposure as to be scarcely recognized. The 
pursuit by Major Schuyler was only carried to 
the river ; the aversion of the Indians to fall 
upon the enemy, as above stated, the want of pro- 
visions, and their shoes quite worn out, were the 
reasons given for their turning back, which 
they did the next day, arriving in Schenectady 
the day after. 

While these movements were in progress on 
the frontier, an express from Col. Beekman, 
of Ulster county, had communicated to Gov. 
Fletcher, at New York, the news of the attack 
on the Mohawk castles, which reached him 
about eleven o'clock on the night of the 12th 
inst. Fletcher was a soldier by profession, and, 
without delay, sent orders to Col. Courtland, of 
Kings, and Col. Wilton, of Queens counties, to 
be forthwith ready with their regiments to em- 
bark at the ferry. At eight o'clock the next 
morning, the city regiment being under arms. His 
Excellency, on horseback, demanded who were 
willing to follow him to the frontier against the 
enemy. They unanimously threw up their hats, 
upon which 150 picked men were detached 
under the command of three captains. The 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 43 

next day, Tuesday, eight sloops with provisions 
and ammunition were made ready, and at four 
o'clock the troops embarked with the Governor 
and staff. The wind being favorable, they 
reached Albanj^ at nine o'clock on Friday, when 
they immediately pressed forward to Schenec- 
tady. The storm of Saturday, which prevented 
Major Schuyler from moving out of his camp, 
as above stated, also prevented the party from 
crossiug the Mohawk river. On Sunday, the 
ice resettling, enabled them to cross over on 
foot, when two hours after, the river was open 
again. 

On Monday a further detachment marched 
over with thirteen horses loaded with supplies, 
and at two o'clock p. m. Capt. Still well arrived 
with fifty men from Kings county, making 
in all 208 men, besides the guides. Tuesday 
an express from Major Schuyler announced 
his approach ; whereupon the troops were 
recalled, and the Governor returned to Albany. 
In consideration of this rapid movement of 
Gov. Fletcher for their relief, on the 25tli of 
February a great council of the five nations was 
held at Albany, at which the hearth-fire was 
uncovered, Sadekanaktie, Sachem of the Onon- 
dagas being the speaker. Gov. Fletcher was 
christened " Brother Cajenguirage," a word 



44 



LAKE GEOEGE AND 



signifying '' Lord of the Great Swift Arrow," 
because of his speedy arrival with so many men 
to the relief of their Waguas' castles ; which 
name he bore with them forever after. "^ 



* Doc. iv, 16 ; ix, 549. Tliis account seems to have been 
almost entirely overlooked. The difference of time in the 
French and English accounts is accounted for by the one 
using old style and the other new style. Reconciling them, 
and taking Burr's atlas and a pair of dividers, the distances 
are easily ascertained. 




Hudson River Crossing. 



CHAPTER III. 

Queen anne'swar — Nicholson's expeditions — fort ingoldsbt, 
rort nicholson — hendkick — fort st. frederick built — cap- 
TURE OF SARAGHTOGA — FORT CLINTON, LA CORNE'S EXPEDITION 
AND BATTLE AT FORT CLINTON — TWENTT-SEVEN PETTY PARTIES — 
WILLIAM JOHNSON'S EXPEDITION TO LAKE ST. SACRAMENT — FORT 
CLINTON BURNED —PEACE OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. 

1709. 

^!^^^^^^HE peace of Kyswick had been cle- 
^gl^P" Glared in 1695. After a lapse of 
fourteen years, the war between Eng- 
'1^ land and France, known as Queen 
Anne's war, broke out, which speedily extended 
to the colonies, each bent on the extermination 
of the other. Ingoldsby, who, with the rank of 
major, had come to this country as commandant 
of Her Majesty's four companies of regulars, was 
now lieutenant-governor. Peter (now Col.) 
Schuyler, was of the executive council, and 
also one of the commissioners of Indian affairs. 
He was called by the Indians Quidar^ because 
they could not pronounce his given name. His 
brother John, who had led the incursion against 
Chamblay, had been advanced to the grade of 
lieutenant-colonel. 



46 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Again, a joint expedition was proposed for 
the conquest of Canada. Five regiments of 
regulars, with proper supplies, were to come to 
Boston, there to be joined with 1,200 provin- 
cials, who were to proceed by sea to Quebec, 
while the troops were to rendezvous at Albany 
for the attack on Montreal. The forces for this 
latter route were placed under the command of 
Col. Yetch, a nephew of Peter Schuyler and 
Gen. Nicholson. The last was tendered the 
command by Gov. Ingoldsby, May 21, 1709. 

On the 19th, the council gave orders that 
" there be sent up forthwith to Albany, a suffi- 
cient quantity of stores, provisions and all other 
things necessary for six hundred men, together 
with carpenters and materials necessary for 
building store-houses and boats, and making 
canoes,"* etc. 

The first portion of the expedition, com- 
prising 300 men, with the pioneers and artifi- 
cers, moved out from Albany about the first 
of June, under the command of Col. Schuy- 
ler, and proceeded to Stillwater, where they 
built a stockade for provisions, which they 
named Fort Ingoldsby. They also established 
stockade forts at Saraghtoga, below the Batten- 

* Journal of the Legislative Council of New York. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. ^T 

kill, and at Fort Miller Falls, and built a 
road up the east side of the river to the great 
carrying place. Here they established a post 
which was called Fort Nicholson, and then pro- 
ceeded up to the fork of the Wood creek (Fort 
Ann), where they constructed a hundred bark 
canoes, and a hundred and ten bateaux, which 
would hold from six to ten men each. They 
also built a redoubt and afterward a stockaded 
fort, which was named Fort Schuyler.^ Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel John Schuyler was in command 
of the place. 

The number of men was finally increased to 
eleven hundred and fifty. Fort Nicholson w^as 
garrisoned by four hundred and fifty men, in- 
cluding seven companies of " regulars in scarlet 
uniform from old England." At the fortified 
house at the next falls below (Fort Miller), were 
forty men ; and at Stillwater, where La Fleuer 
lived, were seventy men. 

Meanwhile, De Yaudreuil had moved up 
from Montreal to Chamblay with 1,600 French 
troops, to watch the motions of the invaders. 
The expedition, on the part of the English, 
however, was simply auxiliary to the fleet. 

* Doc. ix, 837, 839. When it received the name of " Fort 
Anne " does not appear. 



48 XAKE GEORGE AND 

As tlie latter failed, nothing furtlier came of 
the invasion, and the summer passed away in 
idleness. 

About the :first of October, Lt. Barent Staats, 
a nephew of Col. Schuyler, was captured near 
Fort Nicholson, and was detained by the enemy 
till the winter, wheu he was exchanged. 

The army retired in November, having first 
burned the fort, canoes and bateaux, and also 
all the forts above Saraghtoga. 

The following winter, Col. Schuyler, with five 
Sachems, including King Hendrick and Gen. 
Nicholson, went to England to devise a plan 
for another expedition for the conquest of the 
French colonies. In London the Indians were 
clothed in a gay and showy dress, designed by 
the costumers of Her Majesty's theatre, being 
a suit of English small clothes of black, w-ith 
scarlet ingrain mantles of cloth, edged with 
gold, for their blankets. In this they were con- 
ducted in state, in coaches, to an audience with 
Queen Anne ; and, giving her belts of wampum, 
avowed their readiness to take up the hatchet 
and aid in the reduction of Canada. 

In lYll a second army was fitted out in a 
similar manner to the last, and with the same 
purpose. That for the Albany expedition was 
organized into three regiments, as follows : 



LAKE CHAMPLALN. 49 

Col. Ingoldsby, regulars ; Col. Scliiiyler, 'New 
York troops ; Col. Whiting, Connecticut troops ; 
the whole consisting of fifteen hundred men, 
under command of Lieut. -Gen. Nicholson. 
They left Albany on the 24:th of August, on 
which day also the Five l^ations, to the number 
of six hundred and sixty had an interview with 
the Governor. Gen. JN^icholson here presented 
them with a picture of King Ilendrick and 
the other sachems who had now returned from 
England. The Governor desired that they 
should hang on the kettle of war, and presented 
them with five oxen and a barrel of beer for 
each of the nations. The Indians replied, 
desiring that the kettle might not be overset 
nor turned upside down, but remain boiling 
(meaning that the war may continue), " until, if 
God please to bless, we wholly reduce and sub- 
due Canada, when we will overset and turn the 
kettle upside down, and what is boiled in it 
(meaning the prisoners) wall be at the disposal 
of Aniiadagarriax " (Gen Nicholson). 

On the 28th of August the troops were all on 
their march beyond Albany. They proceeded 
as far as Wood creek, to the spot where the fort 
was w^iich was destroyed the year before, and 
was called Fort Ann. The batteaux were 

mainly prepared in Albany and below, and 
5 



60 LAKE GEORGE AND 

were transported across the carrying place. 
The way was three feet four inches wide, French 
measure.* 

Shortly after, intelligence was received that 
Her Majesty's fleet had been shattered by storms 
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with a loss of over 
a thousand troops, and, owing to the ignorance 
of the pilots, it was deemed advisable to aban- 
don the expedition, whereupon the troops were 
ordered back and were disbanded. Thus the 
third attempt at the conquest of Canada proved 
abortive, and shortly after, in 1713, the declar- 
ation of peace, known as the peace of Utrecht, 
between England and France, put a stop to 
further incursions, and closed the series of uni- 
versal wars for the balance of power. 

In 1731, in the midst of profound peace, M. 
de Beauharnois conceived the plan of fortifying 
a point on Lake Champlain known as ^'Point 
au Chevelure " f or Crown Point. It was 
described as at the head of Lake Champlain, 
about half way from Chamblay to Orange 



* Holmes' American Annals, and the authorities there 
cited, state that Nicholson went to Lake St. Sacrament, but 
there does not appear to be any foundation for the assertion. 

f So named in 1689. 



LAKE CHAMPLAESr. 51 

(Albany). " It is a small strait, separating tlie 
lake from the ''Grand Mar ais,'' at the head of 
which is a place called the Little Fall of the 
River du Chicot (Whitehall). When in pos- 
session of Point de la Coiironne^ the road will 
be blocked on the English, should they wish to 
pass over our territory, and we will be in a 
position to fall upon them when they least 
expect it. Beyond a doubt the King of Eng- 
land has granted Lake Champlain to the chil- 
dren of Lieut. Peter Schuyler, a well known 
citizen of Orange. Therefore we must antici- 
pate the establishment they may found at Crown 
Point." 

Their fears in the latter case were a mere 
pretense, as the patent granted to the children 
of Schuyler only extended from Saraghtoga 
patent up to Wood creek.* 

On the above representations, however, His 
Majesty, Louis XY, directed the fort to be 
built, which was accordingly done, and a gar- 
rison of twenty men was placed within it for 
its protection. It was first a small wooden fort, 
which in successive years was enlarged and 
strengthened, until, in 1Y55, it was capable of 

* Fort Edward. 



52 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

holdiiio: five liuixlred or six liundred men. It 
was known as Fort St. Frederick.* 

The following appears to have been its early 
armament : Two iron cannon, six-ponnders ; 
seventeen iron cannon, four-pounders ; twenty- 
three brass cannon, two-pounders ; one iron can- 
non, two-pomider; one mortar; eighteen iron 
swivels ; twenty-five iron shells. 

The provincials looked with alarm at this 
menacing demonstration sixty miles within their 

* The Frencli name of Crown Point, Fort St. Fredericlv, 
is derived from the French Secretary of State, Frederick 
Maurepas, in whose hands the direction and management 
of the Court of Admiralty was at the time of its erection. 
It is to be observed that the government of Canada is sub- 
ject to the Court of Admiralty, and the Governor-General 
is always chosen by this court. As most of the places in 
Canada bear the name of saints, custom has made it neces- 
sary to prefix the word to the name of this fortress. It is 
built on a rock consisting of black lime slates as aforesaid. 
It is nearly quadrangular, has high, thick walls made of 
the same limestone, of which there is a quarry about half a 
mile distant. On the eastern part of the fort is a high 
tower, which is proof against bombshells, and is well served 
with cannon from the bottom almost to the very top, and 
the Governor, Mr. Lusignan, lives in the tower. In the 
terreplein is a well-built little church, and houses of stone, 
for the officers and soldiers. There are sharp rocks on all 
sides toward tJie land, beyond a cannon-shot from the fort, 
but among them are some which are as high as the walls 
of the fort, and very near them. Kaliii's Travels, 1748. 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 53 

border, and made the most energetic protests, 
both at home and to the Lords of Trade, against 
its continuance. The Earl of Waldegrave, the 
British Ambassador, made his objection against 
a continuance of the fort, as in absolute oppo- 
sition to article XY of the treaty of Utrecht, 
but no further effort was made for its removal 
or reduction. 

In 1744 war was again declared between the 
Enii;lish and French. 

In the month of ^N'ovember, 1745, an expedi- 
tion was fitted out at Montreal, under the com- 
mand of M. Marin, comprising three hundred 
Frenchmen and as many Indians. Their object 
was to attack and capture the settlements on 
tlie Connecticut, but on their arrival at Fort St. 
Frederick this purpose was changed, and they 
went down to Saraghtoga,^ which settlement 
they attacked on the night of the 16th and lYth, 
plundered and burned about twenty houses, 
together with the fort. In this affair some 
thirty persons were killed and scalped, and 
about sixty were taken prisoners. Only one 
family escaped destruction, by flight, who, as 
they looked back, saw the fort in flames. 

* Doc. X, pp. 38 and 39. 
5* 



54: LAKE GEORGE AND 

In the spring of 1746 the English proceeded 
to rebuild the fort, for the construction of which 
the Assembly had voted one hundred and fifty 
pounds. The location was, however, changed 
to accommodate some wheat fields which w^ere 
then growing, and to preserve which was the 
object of its construction.* The name given to 
the new work was Fort Clinton. 

1746, Aug. 29. M. de Repentigny, who, with 
a party of twenty-six Abnekas, was scouting 
near by, made an attack upon a party of twenty 
soldiers who were escorting a cart loaded with 
clay to build a chimney, and killed four men at 
the gate of the fort (who were scalped by the 
Indians), and took four prisoners.f 

October 24. The same officer, being on the 
road between Albany and Saraghtoga, attacked 
the ordnance and provision train which was 
then moving up to the latter place, and killed 
two men and upset the wagon.:j: 

July 16. De Mery, and a detachment of 
four hundred and fifty Canadians and savages, 
came to South Bay, and were employed scouting 
and working on the river au Chicot (Wood 

* Doc. vi, 630. Called by the Frencli Sarasteau. 
f Doc. X, 35. 
X Doc. X, 75. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN". 55 

Creek), where they felled the trees on both sides 
to render its navigation impracticable. 

The commandant at Fort St. Frederick was 
M. de Celeron. 

1747, June 11. An expedition started fiom 
Fort St. Frederick, at midnight, for Saraghtoga, 
to destroy Fort Clinton."^ It was under the 
command of La Corne St. Luc, and comprised 
twenty Frenchmen and two hundred Indians. 

June 14. Arrived at the Orange (Hudson) 
river, which they crossed and came down the 
west side. 

June 16. The Indians proposed to form an 
ambuscade on a little island in front of the fort, 
in order to try and "" break somebody's head," 
but La Corne told them they must go to the 
fort. The same day, De Carquiville reported 
that some forty or fifty Englishmen were fishing 

* Fort Clinton was one hundred and fifty feet long", by- 
one hundred feet wide, with six wooden redoubts for bar- 
racks. It was situated on a hill south of the Battenkill, in 
the present town of Easton, and nearly opposite the present 
bridge across the river at Schuylerville, as appears by a 
manuscript map of the province, by Cadwallader Golden. 
Doc. ix, p. 79. It was armed with twelve cannons, being 
six, twelve and eighteen pounders, and was built twice the 
size of the old fort. One hundred bateaux had been built 
here as well as six hundred at Albany for the second Nichol- 
son expedition. 



56 LAKE GEORGE AND 

in the Battenkill ; whereupon La Corne offered 
his double-barrel gun to the first man who 
should bring in a prisoner, and told them that 
after the first volley he should charge the fort, 
ax in hand. The same day, and the next, the 
French crossed the river. The next day he sent 
twenty men on the road to Orange, who returned 
under the supposition that they were discovered. 
The Indians now assembled around the officers, 
and said they must retreat, but these gentle- 
men told them " it was not the custom of the 
French to retire without fighting, when so 
near the enemy, and they were able to defend 
themselves against this number of men if they 
should be attacked." The young braves of 
the Soult, Nepissings, l^orthern Iroquois and 
Hurons said they would not desert them. Six 
scouts were then sent out to the appointed 
place to lie in ambush, and to pass the night 
within eight paces of the fort, with directions 
to fire on those who, the next morning, should 
come out of the fort, and try and take a scalp, 
when if they were attacked they should retreat, 
pretending to be wounded. This w^as accord- 
ingly done. 

On the morning of the 18th, at the break of 
day, two Englishmen came outside the gate, and 
were fired on, when the scouts withdrew. A 



LAKE CHAMPLAIX. 57 

hundred and twenty of the English, headed by 
their officers, then came out of the fort, and, 
having formed in order, marched toward the 
French, making a wheel so as to get near them. 
They halted at the spot which the scouts had 
abandoned, and where they had left a musket 
and tomahawk. At this, La Corne gave the 
signal for the French, who w^ere in ambush, to 
rise and tire, which was accordingly done, and the 
English fired back, and also opened witli cannon 
and grape from the fort. Tlie Indians, however, 
rushed on, tomahawk in hand, and routed the 
English, who had scarcely time to shut their 
gates. Some threw themselves into tlie river 
and w^ere killed by blow^s of the hatchet aud by 
gunshots. Forty-five prisoners were taken and 
twenty-eight scalps, besides those who were 
drowned. 

In addition to the expeditions here mentioned, 
were a large number, twenty-seven in all, of 
petty excursions, comprising from ten to fifty 
men each, who w^ere fitted out at Montreal, to 
take the route of Fort St. Frederick, and com- 
mit what depredations they could on the English 
settlements. Their object was to harass, murder, 
scalp, burn and pillage, and this was wdiat they 
called war. They required but little supplies. 
They passed easily through the w^oods by night 



58 LAKE GEOKGE AOT) 

and by day. Their hunting life made them 
familiar with every mountain pass, and the 
neighboring thicket or stream furnished the 
necessary provisions. They privately approached 
the settlements, lay in wait for their oppor- 
tunity, killed or took prisoners, and were off 
again with such rapidity that pursuit was impos- 
sible. 

1^0 wonder the exposed inhabitants looked 
with dismay upon this fort, as a terrible and 
perpetual menace, and taxed themselves heavily 
for its reduction. In 'New York alone, the 
amount expended in one year was seventy thou- 
sand pounds. 

The following partial account, applicable 
solely to the locality we are attemping to de- 
scribe, conveys an idea of the zeal and energy 
with which the French authorities pursued this 
atrocious system of warfare. 

March 29, 1746. A party set out, consisting 
of fourteen Indians, belono-ino; to the lake of the 
two mountains (on the river St. Lawrence), who 
have been in the country, near Albany, and 
returned with some prisoners and scalps. 

26th. A party of thirty-five warriors belong- 
ing to the Soult set out. They have been in 
the neighborhood of Orange, have made some 
prisoners and taken some scalps. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 59 

27 th. A party set out consisting of six war- 
riors, who struck a blow in tlie neighborhood of 
Albany. 

May 7. Six Kepissings started to strike a blow 
near Boston, and returned with some scalps. 

10th. Gatienonde, an Iroquois, who had been 
settled at the lake for two or three years, left 
with five Indians of that village and Lieut. St. 
Blein, to strike a blow in the neighborhood of 
Orange. They brought in one prisoner. Gatie- 
nonde, the leader, was killed and scalped by the 
Indians on the field of battle. 

12th. Ten Indians of the Soult set out toward 
Boston, and returned with some scalps. 

22d. Nineteen warriors of the Soult St. Louis 
have been equipped. They have been made to 
strike a blow in the direction of Albany. 

24th. A party of eight Abenakis has been 
fitted out, who have been in the direction of 
Corlac,* and have returned with some prisoners 
and scalps. 

27th. Equipped a party of eight warriors of 
Soult, who struck a blow near Albany, and 
l)rought back six scalps. 

28th. A party of twelve Nepissings made 
an attack in the neighborhood of Boston, and 

* Schenectady. 



60 LAKE GEORGE AND 

brought away four scalps and one prisoner, 
whom they killed on the road, as he became 
furious and refused to march. 

A party of Abenakis struck a blow near Al- 
bany and Corlac, and returned with some scalps. 

June 2. Equipped twenty-five warriors, who 
returned from the neighborhood of Albany with 
some scalps. 

3d. Equipped a party of eighteen Nepissings, 
who struck a blow at Albany and Corlac. 

19th. Equipped a party of twenty-five In* 
dians of the Soult, who struck a blow near 
Orange. One or two of these Indians were 
wounded. They brought away some scalps. 

20th. Equipped a party of nineteen warriors 
of the Soult, who went to Orange to strike a 
blow. 

21st. Equipped a party of twenty-seven of 
the same village, to go to Albany. Sieur De 
Carquiville, an officer, was of this party, wdiich 
has brought in a prisoner tliat was on the scout 
to Saristeau,* and some scalps. 

August 10. Chevalier De Repentigny arrived 
at Quebec, and reported that he had made an 
attack near Corlac, and took eleven prisoners 
and twenty-five scalps. 

* Saraghtoga. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 61 

Meanwhile the provincials are not idle. On 
the 4th of August Col. Johnson had sent out 
two parties of the Six N^ations to Canada, who 
made an attack on Chamblay, but fell into an 
ambuscade, and were most of them killed or 
captured, but not till after they had inflicted 
serious damage upon the Canadians. He also 
sent a party of twelve men on a scout to Crown 
Point. 

On the 19th he writes to Gov. Clinton that 
one of his parties, on their return from the lat- 
ter place, had reported that they lay two days 
in sight of the enemy on Lake St. Sacrament, 
who, to the number of between five hundred 
and six hundred men, were encamped upon an 
island."^ 

This was doubtless a part of the force under 
the command of Sieur de Reffaud de Yaudreuil, 
a part of whose command, under La Corne, had 
been engaged in the affair at Saraghtoga. His 
head quarters were at South Bay. His orders 
were to protect Fort St. Frederick, which he 
could only do by having a part of his force at 
the latter place, and part on Lake St. Sacra- 
ment.f 

* Long Island. 

t Doc. X, 114, 132, 148. 
6 



62 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Aug. 28. Johnson writes that he is about set- 
ting off for Lake St. Sacrament, with four hun- 
dred Christians volunteers, and as many more 
Indians, and expected to be absent for twelve 
days. It is possible they took the short route 
via Fish House and Luzerne to the lake. 

It is of this party that Sieur Yilliers speaks, 
on his return from Saraghtoga in the month of 
^November. He says that he sent out a scout to 
the portage of the lake, and there discovered 
a large abandoned camping ground. Judging 
by the size of the cabins and fires, thinks there 
might have been six hundred men, who w^ere on 
their return toward Corlac. Tlie force might 
have been there a month ago. 

On the 9th of December Governor Clinton 
reported that he had been able to raise twenty 
companies in all for the coming expedition 
against Crown Point in the next year. They con- 
sisted of about 1,000 men, under the command 
of Lieut.-Col. Roberts; Mr. Gooch, Lieut.-Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, having declined the command. 

In the fall of 1747 Fort Clinton at Saragh- 
toga was burned, and the guns and stores 
removed, by orders of Gov. Clinton. The 
avowed reason was, that the Assembly did not 
furnish enough troops and supplies to protect it 
from the attacks of the French and Indians. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 63 

May 1, 1748. Hortel Baiibassin, in command 
of a scouting party of fourteen, reported that 
he had destroyed, in the neighborhood of 
Orange (Albany), thirty houses, three small 
forts (stockades), and one mill. 

The preliminaries of a peace between the 
high contracting powers were signed at Aix-la- 
Chapelle, in April of the same year. The pub- 
lication of this news caused a cessation of hos- 
tilities throughout the colonies. Again the 
hatchet was buried. The pioneer looked out 
from his cabin upon the green crops, and the 
hospitable smoke ascended from the deserted 
chimney. But not for long. Providence had 
decreed that this whole continent should be 
under the dominion of the Saxon, though 
blood ran in rivulets to attain that end. 




Chimney Point. 




CHAPTER IV. 

Boundaries unsettled — historical question— mr. Washington, 

HIS interview with ST. PIERRE — TANACHIRASEN — BATTLE OF 
THE GREAT MEADOWS — THE CONGRESS OF 1754 — COUNCIL WITH THE 
FIVE NATIONS. 

1754. 

'HE boundaries between Canada and 
the provinces were not arranged by 
the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. The 
*|^ possession of Crown Point having 
been passed without dispute, by the Enghsh 
commissioners, for the settlement of the terms 
of peace, this was construed by the French into 
an acquiescence in tlieir claim of title to the 
valley of Lake Champlain. 

The jurisdiction also of the entire territory 
west of the Alleghanies w^as left undetermined, 
and the question here occurs of historical interest 
as to the right which either nation had to the 
country in dispute. England vested her claim 
on her Indian treaties with the Six ISTations, 
who pretended that at some remote period they 
had conquered all the region west of the moun- 
tains, as far as the Mississippi river, and on the 
strength of this assumption, they made treaties 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 65 

with the English, ceding to them the lands 

within this space, and confirming their title, 

according to such forms as were prepared for 

them. Unfortunately for the validity of their 

title, these lands were possessed by other Indian 

tribes dwelling there, and whose ancestors, from 

time immemorial, had also occupied them. 

These declared themselves the only rightful 

owners, and denied that the Six ISTations had 

any authority or foundation of a claim over 

them. 

The French insisted as well upon the right of 

occupancy as that of discovery. Settlements 

had been made, thev said, south of Lake Michi- 

gan and on the Illinois river, years before any 

Englishman had set his foot westward of the 

great mountains ; and the respective treaties 

between the countries had repeatedl3U'ecognized 

the title of France to all her actual possessions 

in America. So far the position was tenable ; 

but the French went a step further. They 

maintained it to be an axiom in the law of 

nations that the discovery of a river gave the 

explorer a right to all the country watered by 

the streams flowing into it. Hence, the passing 

of La Salle through the great lakes ,and down 

the Mississippi in a canoe, gave to France a 

title to the immense country bounded by the 
6* 



QQ LAKE GEORGE AOT) 

Alleghanies on one side, and the Rocky Moun- 
tains on the other. Such a hypothesis may be 
gravely advanced or ingeniously defended, but 
its fallacy is too obvious to be pointed out. The 
truth is, neither of the contending parties had 
any just claims to these lands. They were 
both intruders, and it was not strange that 
the native occupants should look with astonish- 
ment at the singular spectacle of two nations in 
distant parts of the world, imknown to them 
except as traders for skins, entering into a 
quarrel about the right of seizing upon their 
property.* 

The claims of the Aborigines did not affect 
the movements of either party ; each hurried to 
possess itself, in advance, of as much territory 
as possible. The French proceeded to build 
forts and establish settlements at Oswegatchie,t 
Toronto, La Boeuf on French creek in Pennsyl- 
vania, and Duquesne.:}: At the latter place 
they drove out the English traders who had 
already settled there, and proceeded to finish 
the fort which had been commenced by the 
Ohio company. 

* Sparks. 

f Ogdensburgh. 

if Now Pittsburgh. 



LAKE CHAJVIPLAIN". 67 

Gov. Dinwiddle, throngli Mr. George Wash- 
ington, complained of these encroachments, but 
to no purpose. "Washington set out from Wil- 
'liamsburgh, the capital of Virginia, on the last 
day of October, 1753. The distance was about 
five hundred and sixty miles, in great part over 
rugged mountains, and over half the way through 
the heart of a wilderness, where there were no 
traces of civilization. He was accompanied by 
eight persons, among whom was Tenacharison, 
a sachem of the Delawares, known as the Half 
King. The party was forty-one days upon their 
journey. The commandant of the fort was M. 
de St. Pierre, a Knight of the Military Order 
of St. Louis, and a polite and courteous officer.^ 

The Governor's letter asserted that the lands 
on the Ohio belonged to the British Crown ; 
expressed surprise at the French encroachments ; 
demanded by whose authority an armed force 
had crossed the lakes, and urged a speedy 
departure. 

St. Pierre replied, in the style of a soldier, that 
it did not belong to him to discuss treaties, refer- 
red Washington to the Marquis Duquesne, Gov- 
ernor of Canada, by whose orders he was acting, 

* St. Pierre served under Deskau, and was killed at the 
battle of Lake George. 



68 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

and that the summons to retire could not be 
complied with.* 

After a stay of two days, "Washington started 
on his return, provided by St. Pierre with a 
canoe, which was plentifully stocked with pro- 
visions, liquors, and every other supply the fort 
could afford. With this he proceeded to 
Yenango, one hundred and thirty miles, and 
performed the rest of the journey home by land. 

On the 27th of May, 1754, at the Great 
Meadows, in the valley of the Kanawha, Col. 
Washington, aided by the Mingo chiefs, made 



* The following is an extract of the speech made by Tan- 
acharison to the French commander : " Fathers, both you 
and the English are white. We live in a country between. 
Therefore the land belongs to neither the one nor the other, 
but the Great Being above allowed it to be a place of resi- 
dence for us. So, fathers, I desire you to withdraw, as I 
have done our brothers the English, for I mean to keep you 
both at arm's length. I lay this down as a trial for both, 
and whichever has the greater regard for it, to that side we 
will stand and make equal sharers with us." These are the 
sentiments of a patriot and a hero. But this high-minded 
savage was not aware that, so far as his race was concerned, 
there was no difference between his professed friends and 
open enemies. He had never studied in the school of poli- 
tics, which finds in the laws of nations an excuse for rapac- 
ity and injustice, nor learned that it was the prerogative 
of civilization to prey upon the ignorant and the defenseless. 
Sparks. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 69 

an attack upon a Frencli force under the com- 
mand of De Joumonville. Perceiving the French 
approach, "Fire," said Washington, and with 
his own musket gave the example. That word 
of command kindled the world into a flame. It 
was the signal f(5l* the first great war of revolu- 
tion. There in the western forest began the 
battle which was to banish from the soil and 
neighborhood of our republic the institutions of 
the middle age, and to inflict on them fatal 
wounds throughout the continent of Europe. 
In repelling France from the basin of the Ohio, 
Washington broke the repose of mankind, and 
waked a struggle which could admit only of a 
truce till the ancient bulwarks of Catholic legiti- 
macy were thrown down.* 

On the 19tli of June, there assembled, at the 
court-house in Albany, the memorable congress 
of commissioners from every colony north of the 
Potomac. The most illustrious names of that 
day are found among its annals. DeLancey, the 
Lieutenant-Governor of New York ; Hutchin- 
son, the historian, of Massachusetts ; the patriot 
Hopkins, of Rhode Island ; Tasker, of Marj^- 
land ; the liberal Smith of New York ; William 
Johnson lately appointed one of the government 

* Bancroft. 



70 LAKE GEORGE AND 

councilors, and Benjamin Franklin, of Penn- 
sylvania, who had ah'eady " projected " a plan 
of a Constitution for a perpetual confederacy of 
the continent, and had brous^ht the heads of it 
with him. They met to concert measures of 
defense against the incursions of the Frencli on 
the north, and to treat with the Six Nations 
and the tribes in their alliance. 

For nearly a quarter of a century Fort St. 
Frederick, built far within the English territories, 
on ground ceded by the Six Nations to the 
Crown, was a standing nuisance to the colonies, 
repressing all settlements in that direction, and 
threatening devastation and ruin to every in- 
habitant north of Albany. 

The reasons for the appointment of the con- 
vention at the above city, are set forth in a 
communication from Gov.DeLancey to the Board 
of Trade, of the 24th of December, 1753. " Here 
was the usual place of holding general con- 
ferences with the Indians. Here they had had 
a "fire burning since the earliest settlement of 
this country. It was situated in the highest 
part of the Hudson river, navigable for vessels of 
any considerable burden, and through which 
all intercourse between Schenectady, a town 
sixteen miles westward, and the western settle- 
ments, is carried on with New York. Again, 



LAKE CHAMPLAESr. Yl 

the Indians, by coming down to Albany upon 
tlieir public business, contract habitudes and 
acquire friendships with some of the inhabit- 
ants, and a kind of rights of hospitality ; and, 
if treated with any sort of civility, will always 
be ready and willing to protect and defend the 
place." 

During the discussion of the federative com- 
pact, the representatives of the red men assem- 
bled to the number of one hundred and fifty. 
The Six Nations comprised the Mohawks, Onei- 
das, Onondagas, Senecas, Tuscaroras and Cayu- 
gas. They occupied the lands lying between 
the Rock Regiochne and the Potomac river, and 
claimed those extending westward for an indefi- 
nite distance, but so as to include the Ohio val- 
ley. Persons wishing lands usually purchased 
them from the Indians, and then took out a 
patent for them from the Crown. The main 
bodies of the tribes resided along the valley of 
the Mohawk, and extended west to Lake Erie. 
By their friendships and good will the western 
side of the settlements of Pennsylvania, Kew 
York, Maryland and Virginia, were protected 
from the incursions of the French or hostile 
Indians. While, therefore, at all times, it was 
necessary to propitiate their good will, it was 
particularly desirable to now cultivate with them 



"72 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

a good understanding, by reason of the contem- 
plated and simultaneous attacks to be made upon 
the French forts at Duquesne, Niagara and 
Crown Point. N^othing can exceed the decorum 
with which the Indian public coimcilswere con- 
ducted. Their assemblies were composed of 
men, women and children. The business was 
arranged by two or three sachems, selected for 
their abilities. They usually formed in a semi- 
circle, the old men and the sachems in the front 
rank, the warriors in the next rank, and the 
w^omen and children last. It was the business 
of the women to take exact notice of what 
passed, imprint it in their memories — for they 
had no writing — and communicate it to their 
children. They were the records of the council, 
and they preserved the traditions of the stipula- 
tions in their treaties for a hundred years back, 
which were always found to be exact. "All 
being seated and in order, he that would speak 
rises, the rest observing a profound silence. 
When he has expressed a point, one or more 
strings of wampum are given in order to enforce 
the memory. When he expresses another point, 
another string, or perhaps a belt is given, de- 
pending upon its importance, and so on until 
the discourse is finished. A day or more is then 
taken for the consideration of the address, when 



LAKE CHAAIPLAIN. Y3 

the answer is prepared and delivered in tlie same 
manner."* The first audience seems to have 
been granted to a deputation of the Stockbridge 
or River Indians, who had not been invited, and 
with whom it was at first uncertain whether an 
audience should be granted or not. Their com- 
plaints related to the sad efiects arising from the 
sale of rum in their respective countries, and 
the systematic overreaching of the whites in 
relation to the sales of their lands. The Gov- 
ernor, in reply, promised to see the laws in rela- 
tion to the traftic in liquor enforced, and to 
examine into the alleged frauds in regard to 
the sales of their lands. The next audience 
was given to a deputation of the lower castle of 
the Mohawks, who stated, through Canadagara, 
their speaker, that they came by God's will and 
His Honor's order ; that this was their old 
meeting place, where they expected a redress of 
their grievances, that so they might part good 
friends. 

They then went on to specify that a large 
tract of land called the Kayaderosseras, had 
been taken up, commencing at the Halfmoon, 
and so up along the Hudson river to the Third 
Fall, thence to the Cacknowaga or Canada 

* Franklin. 



74 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

creek, which, upon inquiry among their old 
men, they could not find was ever sold.* The 
Governor replied it was agreeable to justice to 
hear both parties before a judgment was given, 
and he would send for the patentees or persons 
claiming the land, and hear what they had to 
say, when justice should be done. On the 22d 
of July the Governor wrote to the Board of 
Trade that he had sent for some of the owners 
of the Kayaderosseras patent, who produced an 
Indian deed and a patent granted in J^ovember, 
1708, but the bounds seemed to be larger than 
the Indian deed. 

All this was preparatory to the great council 
of the sachems of the Six N^ations, who were 
received the next day. After some prelimina- 
ries, the Lieut.-Governor stated that the French, 
while professing to be in perfect friendship, 
were making continual encroachments in the 
most insulting manner, both to the north and 
west. " Your fathers," he said, " by their valor, 
above one hundred years ago, made a conquest 
of the country, which they afterward, of their 
own accord, put under the protection of the 



*0n Montrose's map, date 1775, the creek is spelled 
** Canidadrosseras " and " Coniaderosseras," also spelled 
" Cayaderossera." Vol. xxxii, Land Papers. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 75 

King of Great Britain. The Frencli are 
endeavoring to possess themselves of this whole 
country, although they have made the most 
express treaties with the English to the con- 
trary. Brethren, it appears to us that these 
measures of the French must necessarily soon 
interrupt and destroy all trade and intercourse 
with the English and the several Indian nations 
on the continent. We want to know whether 
these things appear to you in the same light as 
they do to us, or whether the French building 
forts and taking possession of your country be 
done with your consent and approbation. 
Brethren, open your hearts to us ; deal with us 
as brethren ; we are ready to consult with you 
liow to scatter these clouds that hang over us. 
This is a matter of so great weight that we 
think it best to defer mentioning any other 
affairs till you have considered this, lest they 
should take away part of that attention which 
is necessary on so extraordinary an occasion." 
[Gives a belt.] 

But it seems that the Six Nations had some 
other grievances to be settled before they would 
enter upon the main business which the Gover- 
nor and commissioners had so much at heart. 
" Last summer," says ELendrick, their speaker, 
"we of Canajoharie [the upper castle of the 



76 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Mohawks] went down to 'New York to make 
onr complaints, and we then thought the cove- 
nant chain was broken, because we were 
neglected ; and when you neglect business, the 
French take advantage of it, for they are never 
quiet. It seemed to us that the Governor had 
turned his back upon the Five I^ations, as if 
they were no more ; whereas the French are 
doing all in their power to draw us over to 
them. We blamed the Governor last summer 
for this neglect, while the French were drawing 
the Five Nations away to Oswagatchie, which 
might have been prevented if proper use had 
been made of that warning, but now we are 
afraid it is too late. In former times Col. 
Schuyler used frequently to come among us, 
and by this means we were kept together. 
Brother, we, the Mohawks, are in difficult cir- 
cumstances, and are blamed for things we don't 
deserve. There are some of our people who have 
large ears, and talk a little broken English and 
Dutch, so tliat they sometimes hear what is said 
by the Christian settlers near them, and by this 
means we came to understand that we are 
looked upon to be a proud nation, and therefore 
stayed behind." 

The Governor made a fitting reply, caution- 
ing them not to hearken to common reports, 




HENDRICK. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. T7 

" but to open tlieir hearts to each other, and so 

remove any jealousies that may exist among us." 

On Tuesday, July 2d, in the presence of the 

several Governors and councilors, the answer of 

the Six Nations was made to the general speech 

of the Governor. All being seated, Abraham, 

a sachem of the upper castle, arose and said : 

" Brethren, you, the Governor of ]^ew York and 

the other Governors, are you ready to hear us ?" 

The Governor replied they were ready. Then 

Hendrick rose up and spoke as follows : 

*' Brother Corlear and brothers : Saturday last 

you told us that you came here by orders of 

the great King, our common father, and in his 

name to renew the ancient chain and friendship 

between this and the other governments on the 

continent and the six united nations. We 

rejoice that by the King's orders we are all met 

here this day, and are glad to see each other 

face to face. Brethren, we thank you in the 

most hearty manner for your condolence to us. 

We also condole all your friends and relatives 

who have died since our last meeting here." 

[Gave them strings of wampum.] " Brethren, 

we return you [holding up the chain belt given 

by His Honor] all our grateful acknowledgments 

for renewing and brightening the covenant 

chain. We will take it to Onondaga, where 



78 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

our council fire always burns, and keep it so 
securely that neither thunder nor lightning 
shall break it. There we will consult over it, 
and as w^e have lately added two links to it 
[referring to two more nations who had joined 
their league], so we w^ill use our endeavors to 
add as many more links to it as lies in our 
power. We now solemnly renew and brighten 
tlie covenant chain with our brethren here pres- 
ent, and with all our other absent brethren on 
the continent. Brethren, as to the account vou 
have heard of our being dispersed from each 
other, 'tis very true. You have asked us the 
reason. The reason is, your neglecting us for 
these three years past." [Then taking a stick 
and throwing it behind him.] " You have thus 
thrown us behind your back and disregarded 
us ; whereas the French are a subtle and vigi- 
lant people, ever using their endeavors to induce 
and bring our people over to them." [Gave a 
belt.] "As to the encroachments of the French, 
we have made a strict inquiry among all our 
people, and we cannot find that either any sale 
has been made or leave been given ; but the 
French have gone thither and built their forts 
and occupied the land without our consent or 
approbation. Brethren, the Governor of Vir- 
ginia and the Governor of Canada are both 



LAKE CHiN^IPLAIN. T9 

quarreling about lands which belong to us, and 
such a quarrel as this may end in our destruc- 
tion. Brethren, it is true, as jou told us, that 
the cloud hangs heavy over us, and 'tis not very 
pleasant to look up ; but we give you this belt 
to clear away all clouds, that we may live 
in bright sunshine and keep together in strict 
union and friendship." [Gave a belt.] 
^' Brethren, this is the ancient place of treaty, 
where the fire of friendship always used to 
burn, and 'tis now three years since we have 
been called to any public treaty here. 'Tis true 
there are commissioners here, but they have 
never invited us to smoke with them, but the 
Indians of Canada come frequently and smoke 
here, which is for the sake of their beaver ; but 
we hate them [meaning the French Indians] ; 
we have not as yet confirmed the peace with 
them. 'Tis your fault, brethren, that we are not 
strengthened by conquest, for we would have 
gone and taken Crown Point, but you hindered 
us. We had concluded to go and take it, but 
we were told it was too late, and that the ice 
would not bear us. Instead of this, you burned 
your own fort at Saraghtoga, and ran away from 
it, which was a shame and a scandal to you. 
Look about your country and see. You have 
no fortifications about you ; no, not even in this' 



80 LAKE GEORGE AND 

city. 'Tis but one step from Canada hither, 
and the French may easily come and turn you 
out of your doors. Brethren, you were desir- 
ous that we should open our minds and our 
hearts to you. Look at the French. They are 
men ; they are fortifying everywhere ; but, we 
are ashamed to say it, you are like women, bare 
and open, without any fortifications." 

Here Hendrick ended his speech, when the 
sachem Abraham arose and stated that when 
Col. Johnson had laid down the manas^ement of 
Indian affairs it had caused them a great uneasi- 
ness. They desired that he be re-instated, for 
they all lived happy under his management. 
"We love him and he us, and he has always 
been our good and trusty friend. Brethren, I for- 
got something. We think our request about Col. 
Johnson, which Gov. Clinton promised to carry 
to the King, our father, is drowned in the sea." 

To this the Governor the next day replied to 
the effect that it gave the commissioners great 
pleasure to see them so ready to renew and 
brighten the ancient chain of friendship. They 
were sorry any neglect had been shown them, 
and hoped nothing of the kind would happen 
hereafter. They were glad they gave no coun- 
tenance to the French, and were surprised to 
hear that the Governor of Virginia and Canada 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 81 

were fighting about lands belonging to them. 
Here Mr. Wiesar, agent for Virginia and Penn- 
sylvania, made satisfactory explanations to the 
effect that the road they had complained of 
had been traveled by the traders to Ohio for 
thirty years, when the Governor said : 

"Brethren, you told us we were open and 
defenseless. We are consulting how far it will 
be necessary to fortify our frontier, at the same 
time we expect you to take care to keep your 
people from going over to the French." 

The rejoinder of the Six Nations was spoken 
by Hendrick, on the fifth of July. After 
expressing his pleasure at the mutual and satis- 
factory arrangements of their respective differ- 
ences, he said : 

" Brethren, we put you in mind from our 
former speech, of the defenseless state of your 
frontiers, particularly of this city, of Schenec- 
tady, and of the country of the Five Nations. 
You told us yesterday you were consulting 
about securing both. "We beg you will resolve 
upon something speedily. You are not safe 
from danger one day. The French have their 
hatchet in their hands both at Ohio and in two 
places in New England. We don't know but 
this very night they may attack us. Since Col. 
Johnson has been in this city there has been a 



82 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

French Indian at liis house, who took measure 
of the wall around it, and made very narrow 
observations on every thing thereabouts. We 
tliink Col. Johnson in very great danger, because 
the French will take more than ordinary pains 
to kill him or to take him prisoner, both on 
account of his great interest among us and 
because he is one of our sachems." [Upon this 
they gave four strings of wampum.] 

" Brethren, there is an affair about which our 
hearts tremble and our minds are deeply con- 
cerned. We refer to the selling of rum in our 
castles. It destroys many, both of our old and 
young people. We are in great fears about this 
rum. It may cause murder on both sides. We, 
the Mohawks of both castles, request that the 
people wdio are settled round about us may not 
be suffered to sell our people rum. It keeps 
them all poor, and makes them idle and wicked. 
If they have any money or goods they lay all 
out in rum. It destroys virtue and the progress 
of religion among us. We now have a friendly 
request to make to the Governors here present, 
that they will help us build a church at Canajo- 
harie, and that we may have a bell in it, wdiicli, 
together with the putting a stop to the sale of 
rum, will tend to make us religious and to lead 
to better lives than we do now." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 83 

The Governor promised satisfaction, and then 
stated, before he covered up the fire, that he had 
ordered thirty wagons to carry up the presents 
to Schenectady, also some provisions for the 
journey, with which the conference, so far as 
regarded the Indians, broke up. 

After some weeks of deliberation the " Plan 
of Union " was completed. It was not satisfac- 
tory, however, either to the Crown or to the 
people. It was reserved for another day and 
place — twenty-two years after, at Independence 
Hall, in Philadelphia, on the fourth day of July, 
1776 — to complete those "Articles of Confed- 
eration," which formed the United States of 
America. 




River Batteau. 



CHAPTER V. 

Col. toi. johnson appointed to the command of the troops — thb 
great council with the indians —kaghswughtiona, alias red 
head — conochquiesib — ltdius. 

1755. 

']^ the 16tli of April, 1755, a commis- 
U^ sion was issued to Col. Wm. Johnson, 
^ appointing him a major-general. It 
^^^ recited that the governments of Mas- 
sachusetts Baj, New Hampshire, Connecticut, 
Rhode Island and ^New York, had raised, re- 
spectively, a body of men, amounting in all to 
about four thousand, to be employed "in an 
attempt to erect a strong fortress upon an emi- 
nence near the French fort at Crown Point, and 
for removing the encroachments of the French 
upon His Majesty's lands in that quarter." 

The quota to be raised by the respective 
colonies was as follows : New Hampshire, six 
hundred ; Connecticut, one thousand ; Rhode 
Island, four hundred ; New York, eight hun- 
dred ; Massachusetts, twelve hundred. The 
expenses for the expedition were £20,000, which 
appear to have been furnished by the British 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 85 

government on the credit of Gov. Bracldock, to 
be assessed on the colonies in about the above 
proportion. 

The appointment of Johnson to the command 
of the expedition was in consequence of a coun- 
cil of Governors held at Alexandria, in Virginia, 
April 14:th, of the same year. This meeting 
was presided over by Gen. Edward Braddock, 
Commander-in-chief of His Majesty's forces in 
I^orth America. 

The council expressed their approbation of 
the attack proposed to be made by the General 
upon Crown Point and I^iagara, as being " un- 
doubted encroachments made by the French 
upon His Majesty's dominions," and gave it as 
their unanimous opinion that Col. Johnson was 
the " properest person to have the command of 
the expedition to Crown Point." 

Gen. Johnson proceeded to make adequate 
preparations for the campaign. 

On the 29th of May, he writes to Gov. De 
Lancey that" the six eighteen-pounders and the 
four field pieces are too few for the number of 
troops destined for this service," and requests 
four more of each kind ; also a quartermaster 
and an engineer for the artillery. 

June 18. Mr. George Banyar, colonial secre- 
tary, on behalf of the Governor, reports that he 
8 



86 LAKE GEORGE AND 

would have the carriages for the ten heavy guns 
made in New York, while Johnson should have 
the carriages for the brass field-pieces made at 
Albany. " Capt. Eyre, being on the spot, will 
give the proper directions to the workmen. If 
you have not sponges, saddles, etc., mention 
wdiat is wanted, and we will endeavor to have 
them sent with the other things. If there be 
not enough ball, send down one of the shot 
that is a pattern. The ten large bateaux for 
the cannon must be made at Albany. The 
carriages we saw at Alexandria had apart- 
ments in them for powder and shot, wdiich I 
think very necessary, as the guns may be used 
on the march. Those made at Albany were 
done by Garret Lansing, and Mr. Dies desires 
me to caution you against making them too 
heavy." 

The artillery train appears to have been a 
source of equally anxious care on the part of 
the provincial authorities. On the 5th of July 
the assembly ordered the sum of nine hundred 
and forty-four pounds to be paid toward the 
train, in addition to two thousand pounds pre- 
viously advanced for the same. One thousand 
pounds was also advanced on the security of 
part of the provisions allowed by the colony of 
Pennsylvania. Gov. Shirley also furnished fifty- 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 87 

one hundred and fifty-two pounds for tlie same 
service, which completed the whole estimate for 
the train of artillery.* 

The ammunition for the same not being suf- 
ficient, fifty-two barrels of powder additional 
were taken from the Niagara expedition, and 
placed at the disposal of the commander. An 
allowance was proposed to be made to Gen. 
Johnson of but £25 for his personal expenses, 
wdiich he claimed was not enough. 

" I am far from intending or desiring," writes 
Johnson, " a support for a vain or useless osten- 
tation, but the council will, I presume, think it 
necessary that I sustain the honor conferred 
upon me w^th a decent dignity. The troops 



* The subsequent liistory of Johnson's park of artillery 
possesses some points of public interest. It was turned over 
to the victorious French troops at the disastrous surrender 
of Monroe to Montcalm ; abandoned to the English at the 
capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point by Lord Amherst ; 
subsequently captured by Cols. Ethan Allen and Arnold, in 
1775, " in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Conti- 
nental Congress." Finally, in the dead of winter, in 1776, 
under Gen. Henry Knox, commander of artillery during 
the Revolution, through the woods on long trains of sledges 
drawn by oxen, fifty pieces were transported to Boston. 
There it did good service in the siege and bombardment of 
that j)lace, until the city was evacuated by the British 
troops. 



88' LAKE GEORGE AND 

will naturally expect to see it, the officers to feel 
it. !N^either my policy nor my spirit will allow 
me to disgrace the character I am placed in. 
The province of 'New Jersey have agreed to 
give Col. Peter Schuyler, who commands but 
five hundred men, three hundred pounds cur- 
rency for his table. Is not a secretary, are not 
aids-de-camp necessary about me ? Is there to 
be no establishment for them ? They must 
always be of my table." 

In consequence of these representations, an 
allowance of fifty pounds per month was made 
to Gen. Johnson for his table, and four hundred 
and fifty-seven pounds for the service of the 
Indians. 

On his return from Albany, Gen. Johnson 
sent messages, with belts and wampum, through 
the several Indian nations, acquainting them 
with his appointment, and calling for a grand 
council, to be held at his house (Fort Johnson), 
for which vast preparations had been made. 

The conference was opened with due solem- 
nity and the observance of all the ancient forms, 
at Mount Johnson, June 21. The nations rep- 
resented were the Senecas, Cayugas, Oneidas, 
Tuscaroras, Onondagas, Tiedrigoes, Schnadari- 
ghroes, Delawares and Mohawks. In all there 
were eleven hundred, men, women and children, 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 89 

being a greater number than were ever assem- 
bled before at any public meeting."^ 

The representative white men present were 
Hon. William Johnson, the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, 
the Indian missionary (afterward transferred to 
Trinity Church, New York), Peter Wraxall, 
secretary for Indian affairs ; four interpreters ; 
Mr. Ferrall, Capt. Stoddert, Capt. Butler and 
John Henry Lydius, who was in the interest of 
Gov. Shirley, and appeared by accident here, as 
he was on his way to Oswego. 

The speeches had previously been written out 
and translated into Indian by Daniel Glaus, a 
German gentleman of education, who had lived 
for some time with the upper Mohawks, assisted 
by the other interpreters, and by them read to 
two eminent sachems of the Onondaga and 
Oneida tribes. 

At the appointed hour all were seated and 
the tribes arranged in order in the open air. 
The address was first made by Johnson in Eng- 
lish. This was repeated in a low tone, para- 
graph by paragraph, by Glaus, the interpreter, 
and was then spoken by the Onondaga sachem. 



* The General was distressed where to get food for such 
numbers, as they " destroyed every green thing upon his 
estate, and all his meadows." 
8* 



90 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

Kaghswughtiona (" Red Head "), to the whole 
body of Indians, with their consent and appro- 
bation. 

^' Brethren of the confederate nations here 
present : With this string of wampum I wipe 
away all tears from your eyes and clear your 
throats, that we may cheerfully look one another 
in the face, and that you may, at this meeting, 
attend and speak without constraint." [Gave a 
string of wampum.] 

Johnson then stated that he had attended a 
great meeting of the Governors of the States, 
with Gen. Braddock (a great warrior), where 
many things were considered and agreed upon, 
among which were some concerning the welfare 
and interests of his brethren, the Indians, and 
regarded more particularly the insults and 
encroachments of the French. He then pro- 
ceeded : 

" Brethren, the tree which you have so often 
and so earnestly desired might be again set up, 
is now raised and fixed in the earth by so pow- 
erful a hand that its roots will take a firm and 
deep footing, and its branches be a comfortable 
and extensive shade for you and all your allies 
to take shelter under it. I do, brethren, at the 
same time, remove the embers which remained 
at Albanv, and rekindle the fire of council and 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 91 

friendship at this place; and this lire I shall 
make of such wood as will give the clearest 
light and greatest warmth, and I hope it will 
prove comfortable and useful to all such as 
will come and light their pipes at it, and dazzle 
and scorch all those who are or may be enemies 
to it. I expect, brethren, that you w^ill, on your 
parts, increase the luster and benefits of this 
fire by keeping it dressed up and tending it with 
such diligent zeal as may render it not only a 
blessing to yourselves but to your posterity. 
Brethren, with this string of wampum I make 
this council room clean and free from every 
thing ofi'ensive, and I hope that you will take 
care that no snake may creep in among us, or 
any thing which may obstruct our harmony." 
[Gave a string of wampum.] 

He also informed them that he had been 
appointed superintendent of Indian aff'airs, and 
then advised them to cast away all discord, 
jealousies and misunderstandings. " Consult 
together," he said, " with that love and confi- 
dence which becomes brethren. Let your gene- 
ral interest be the desire of every man among 
you. Unity among brethren is the best and 
surest defense against every enemy. Brothers 
joined together are like a great bundle of sticks 
which cannot be broke whilst they are bound 



92 LAKE GEORGE AND 

togetlier, but when separated from each other a 
child may break them." [Here a bmidle of 
sticks, bound together, were delivered by Col. 
Johnson to the sachem, Red Head, who, with a 
very lively action and in an animated manner, 
exemplified the metaphor, and gave the bundle 
of sticks to a sachem on the front bench. Upon 
this, a universal shout of applause w^as given by 
the Indians.] " So will it be with you. If you 
keep in union you will be strong, but if divided, 
you will easily be destroyed. To fix in your 
hearts and to render this advice, which I have 
given you, effectual, I strengthen it with this 
belt of wampum." [Gave a belt.] 

The General then informed them he had done 
for this time, but would give them another 
speech the day after to-morrow, when affairs of 
the greatest importance would be oj^ened to them. 

On the morning of the 23d a council of the 
sachems w^as held to consider of the reply, and 
Hendrick was nominated for their speaker, but 
he declined the honor in favor of " Red Head," 
which was at last agreed to. The latter had 
been much under French influence, but had been 
won over by Col. Johnson. 

In the afternoon, the assembly being convened 
as before, Hendrick, the Mohawk sachem, first 
rose up and said : 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 93 

" Brother Wariagliejaghe [Col. Johnson's 
Indian name] : The confederate nations are 
now ready to make their reply to yom' speech 
to them on last Saturday. Are you prepared 
to hear what we have to say ?" Col. Johnson 
told them that he was. Hendrick then said : 

" Brother sachems and you warriors, my chil- 
dren : According to the customs of our fore- 
fathers on these occasions, the speaker was 
chosen from the Mohawks, Senecas or Ononda- 
gas, they being the elder brothers of the confed- 
eracy. I^or was any preference given to either 
of the three, as from whichever of them a 
speaker was chosen, there was no fear but 
every thing would be regularly conducted. 
You warriors and young men take notice and 
remember this custom. Brother Kaghswugh- 
tiona the Sachem, of Onondaga, is chosen for 
our speaker at this meeting." 

Kaghswughtiona then rose up and said as fol- 
lows : 

"Brother Wariagliejaghe: We, the confed- 
erate nations now assembled, do, by this string 
of wampum, return you our brotherly thanks 
for the ceremony of wiping our tears, etc. We 
do the same to you for every cause of grief you 
may have had, and we also clear your throat and 
heart that you may speak to us with an uncon- 



94: LAKE GEORGE AND 

strained freedom. We condole with our breth- 
ren, the English, for all the blood which lias 
been spilled by the French and all other 
enemies." [Gave a string of wampum.] 

Red Head thanked him for the relation given 
of the journey to Virginia, and of what passed 
at the council there, and then said : " We are 
also rejoiced to see the tree replanted, and that 
in so strong a manner. We hope it will be 
nourished by refreshing streams, that it may 
grow up as high as the heavens, and be proof 
against every envious wind ; that its branches 
may be large enough and numerous enough to 
afford sufficient shelter for us and all our 
brethren to come and consult under it, and that 
our children's children may bless the hand that 
planted it. Brother, we have been long in 
darkness, and we are extremely obliged to tlie 
King for now restoring us to that clear and 
comfortable light, whicli in old times cheered 
our fathers, by appointing you to the sole man- 
agement of our affairs, whom we look upon as 
our own flesh and blood. You, last year, made 
up the fire at Onondaga, of such wood as will 
never burn out. As to the fire at Albanv, it 
was so low and bad that we could not find even 
a spark to light a pipe at it. But here we have 
a fire that will never be extinguished. This 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 95 

fire, as well as that at Onondaga, we will cher- 
ish, and all other fires we thus kick away [here 
the speaker kicked with his foot], as unnatural 
and hateful to us." [Gave a belt, and the 
Indians gave a shout.] "Brother, we thank 
you for renewing our ancient forms. You have 
records of these things, and we thank you for 
putting us in mind of them by cleaning this 
council place, and we assure you we will 
endeavor to keep it clean and free from every 
thing hurtful. We also thank you for advising 
us to be sincerely and afiectionately united 
together, in so expressive a manner as you did 
by the bundle of sticks. It hath warmed our 
hearts, and we are sensible that if divided we 
shall be like this single stick, easily destroyed, 
and we are determined to support that strict 
union which rendered our forefathers formidable 
and happy." [Gave a belt of wampum.] 

Col. Johnson here expressed his thanks for 
their afifectionate answer, and having given 
notice that he desired their attendance the next 
day, and that two cannon would be fired as a 
signal, the assembly broke up. 

The same formalities were observed the fol- 
lowing day, when Col. Johnson spoke as follows : 

" Brethren, sachems and warriors of the con- 
federate nations : With this string of wampum 



96 LAKE GEORGE AND 

I pick your ears, and desire your serious atten- 
tion. Behold, brethren, these great books [four 
folio volumes of the records of Indian affairs, 
which lay upon the table]. They are records 
of the many solemn treaties and transactions 
which have passed between your forefathers and 
your brethren, the English, also between many 
of you here present and us, your brethren, now 
living. They testify that it is now almost a 
hundred years since your forefathers and ours 
became known to each other. That upon our 
lirst acquaintance we shook hands, and finding 
we should be useful to one another, entered into 
a covenant of brotherly love and mutual friend- 
ship ; and though at first we were only tied by 
a rope, yet lest this rope should grow rotten and 
break, we tied ourselves together by an iron 
chain; lest time and accident might rust and 
destroy this chain of iron, we afterward made 
one of silver, the strength and brightness of 
which would be subject to no decay. The ends 
of this silver chain are fixed in the immovable 
mountains, in so firm a manner that the hands 
of no mortal enemy might be able to move it. 
By keeping it bright and unbroken we have 
never spilled in anger one another's blood to 
this day. From the beginning to this time, we 
have almost every year strengthened and 



LAKE CHA^IPLALN". 97 

brightened this covenant chain in the most 
public and solemn manner. You know that 
we became as one body, one blood and one 
j^eople, the same king our common father ; that 
your enemies Avere ours, and Avhom you took 
into your alliance and allowed to take into their 
hands this covenant chain as brethren, they have 
become so to us. Brethren, you also know that 
from the beginning the French were your 
declared and most cruel enemies." 

The Colonel then proceeded to detail their 
endeavors to burn the settlements ; their sup- 
plying their enemies with ammunition ; their 
spoiling the hunting grounds by building stock- 
ades ; their pretended peace when wai* was in 
their hearts ; their treachery in obtaining leave 
to found trading houses, when they immediately 
built forts ; until finally, when six years ago 
they sent a body of armed men to cut ofi" the 
brethren at the Ohio, which they would in all 
probability have succeeded in, had not Johnson 
prevented it by giving the Indians timely notice 
of their danger. 

"And now, my brethren," he continued, " I 
ask you, and I desire every man present to ask 
himself, the question. Who have been — who are 
the friends and brethren of the five confederate 
nations and their allies? the English or the 



98 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

Frencli ? Whatever the reports the French may 
artfully spread among yon, to alarm or excite 
jealousies in you against the English, believe 
me they are false and raised only to ruin and 
enslave you and establish their own power. I 
call that Almighty Spirit above to witness, who 
made us all and knows our hearts, which created 
the sun which shines upon us, and in whose 
hands are the thunder and the lightning, that 
we, your brethren, have no ill designs whatever 
against you. If you will continue to be dutiful 
and faithful children to the King, and enter into 
no engagements with the French against your 
brethren the English — if you will do this with 
sincerity, I am ready with this belt to renew 
and make more strong and bright than ever the 
covenant chain of love and friendship, that our 
friends or enemies shall be yours, and that your 
friends or enemies shall be ours." [Here the 
union belt was gi ven .] ' ^ Stand hy your hrethren , 
the English. They have, indeed, been long 
asleep, but now they are thoroughly awake. 
They are slow to spill blood, but when they 
begin they are like an angry wolf, and the 
French will fly before them like deer. Now is 
your time to choose. I am ordered to go 
myself, with great guns and other implements 
of war, to drive the French from their encroach- 



LAKE CHAMPLAUS". 99 

ments on your hunting grounds in this province. 
If you will be dutiful to the King, if you will 
be faithful to your brethren, if you will treat 
me as your brother, go with me. My war ket- 
tle IS ON THE FIRE ; MY CANOE IS READY TO PUT 
INTO THE WATER ; MY GUN IS LOADED ; MY SWORD 
IS BY MY SIDE, AND MY AX IS SHARPENED. By 

this large belt, therefore, I call you to rise up 
like honest and brave men, and join your 
brethren against our common enemy ; and by it 
I confirm the assurances I have given you." 
[Here he gave a war belt to Abraham, a brother 
of Hendrick, a sachem of the upper Mohawk 
castle.] 

The next day Johnson gave them the speech 
sent to them by Gen. Braddock. 

On the 29th of June the sachems were pre- 
pared with their reply, which was delivered by 
Red Head, stating that they accepted his 
terms, and that a certain number of the braves 
would go from each castle ; but as they left their 
families unprepared for this event, they were 
desirous their young men should first go home 
and settle their affairs properly. 

Johnson replied, stating his satisfaction at 
this determination. In the evening the war 
kettle was put on, and the war dance was 
performed. Col. Johnson began it, and the 



100 LAKE GEORGE AND 

speakers, sachems and warriors joined in the 
solemn ceremony. 

A number of days more were consumed at 
this celebrated conference. 

On the first of July, the presents being set 
out in the middle of the yard, Gen. Johnson 
ao-ain addressed the Indians to the effect, that 
as they had engaged themselves to assist their 
brethren in the undertakings now on foot 
against their enemies, the French, he hoj)ed 
they would fulfill their engagements like honest 
men ; that some of their young men should go 
down and join Gen. Braddock ; that Gov. 
Shirley was going with an army to Oswego and 
Niagara, and he desired they should give him 
their presence and assistance in his undertakings ; 
that he would shortly march with the forces 
nnder his command to Crown Point, and he 
desired they would have some warriors from 
each nation to attend to his directions. 

The reply was again given by Ked Head, 
who seemed to have been the chief orator for 
this occasion, in which he promised that they 
would persist in their engagements ; that the 
Ilalf King had already joined Gen. Braddock 
with several of their people ; that where John- 
son went they were ready to follow, and there 
would be people to join and aid Gov. Shirley. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 101 

He then took in his hands a laro^e belt of warn- 
pum, witli a smaller one tied to it, and said: 

'' Brother : As every thing has gone in a 
friendly way between ns at this meeting, and 
we are now united together in the most intimate 
manner, let ns not have the devil to join with 
us, and that is the rum. We desire you will 
stop up the bung, and let none come to be sold 
to our people. Let us be content with the drink 
which God gives us from the heavens. Rum is 
not necessary for our lives, but, on the contrary, 
is the occasion of our losing them. "We have 
never any difference but through this cursed 
liquor. 

" Brother, we must correct you a little. ' You 
desire us to unite and to live together, and to 
draw all our allies near us ; but we shall have 
no land left, either for ourselves or for them. 
Wlien your ^^eople buy a small piece of land 
from us, by stealing they make it large. Some- 
times it is bought of two men who are not the 
proper owners of it." * ^ * 

Conochquiesie, the Oneida sachem, then rose 
up and said : 

"Brother, you promised us that you would 

keep this fire-place clean from all filth, and that 

no snake should come into this council room. 

That man sitting there (pointing to Col. Lydius) 

9* 



102 LAKE GEORGE 

is a devil and lias stolen our lands. He takes 
Indians slyly by the blanket, one at a time, 
and when they are drunk, puts some money 
into their bosoms, and persuades them to sign 
deeds for our lands upon the Susquehanna 
which we will not ratify, nor suffer the lands 
to be settled." 

In his rejoiner Gen. Johnson said : " That if 
the coming of Lydius was any offense to the 
Indians, he was sorry for it. Lydius came to 
Mount Johnson of his own accord, and without 
any invitation from him. If Col. Lydius has 
done as you represent, which I am afraid is in a 
great measure true, I think he is very faulty — 
and nobody should attempt to settle lands on 
such unfair purchases." 

The General having further wished them a 
safe return to their homes, the Conference — the 
most celebrated in Indian history — broke up, 
having been in session fourteen days. 





SIR "WILLIAM JOHNSON. 




CHAPTER yi. ; 



The expedition to lake george — composition of the begi- 
ments — fort hardy — fort miller — council of war — fort 
lyman — arrival at lake st. sacrament — name changed to 
lake george — deiskau — battle of lake george — bloody 
pond — the capture op crown point postponed. 

'LBAISTY was selected as tlie place of 
rendezvous for the troops destined for 
the Crown Point expedition, who 
began to assemble about the last of 
June. It was composed of the following regi- 
ments : 

First Connecticut — Maj or-General Phin eas 
Lyman, Lieut.-Col. John Pitkin, Major Robert 
Denniston. 

Second Connecticut — Col. Eleazur Goodrich, 
Lieut.-Col. Nathan Whiting, Major Eleazur 
Fitch. 

First Massachusetts — Col. Timothy Ruggles, 
Lieut.-Col. Thos. Gilbert, Major Jonathan 
White. 

Second Massachusetts — Col. Moses Titcomb, 
Lieut.-Col. Jonathan Bagley, Major Ebin 
Nichols. 



104 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

Third Ifassachusetts — Col. Ephriam Wil- 
liams, Lieut.-Col. Setli Pomeroy, Major JsToali 
Ashley. 

First llJiode Island — Col. "Wm. Cockroft, 
Lieut.-Col. Edward Cole, Major Robert House. 

To these were added, on their arrival at Fort 
Edward, Col. Joshua Blanchard's regiment of 
New Hampshire. 

In addition to the above regiments were the 
following companies : 

Capt. Phil John Schuyler, Albany, 87 men. 

Capt. Edmond Mathews, Albany, 97 men. 

Capt. Isaac Corser, Westchester, 95 men. 

Capt. Peter Yandenburgh, Dutchess, 78 men. 

Capt. Wm. McGinness, Schenectady, 89 men. 

Capt. Samuel Dimock, Seabrook, Ct., 97men. 

Capt. John Slap, Durham, Ct., 97 men. 

Capt. Street Hall, Wallingford, Ct., 97 men. 

These companies were organized into the IN^ew 
York regiment, wliich was placed under the 
command of Major Fitch, of Connecticut. 

About the first of August Gen. Lyman moved 
up the river with the advance, building store- 
houses and opening the road. At Saraghtoga he 
constructed a block-house, to which he gave the 
name of Fort Hardy, in honor of the JS^ew Gov- 
ernor of I^ew York. This fort was located on 
the north side of Fish creek, on the west side 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 105 

of tlie river. It was protected on two sides, by 
the creek and river, and on tlie remaining sides 
by a deep ditch, which was crossed by a draw- 
bridsre. Store-houses were also erected at the 
second carrying place, to which the name of 
Fort Miller was given. They were on the west 
side of the stream, and were bnilt upon the flat 
at the head of the falls. This flat is protected 
on three sides, by the river, which cnrves around 
it in a horseshoe form, and one-third of the 
remaining side by a narrow bay. To complete 
these natural defenses a parapet of timber and 
earth, with a fence in front of it, was extended 
across the neck of land from the head of the bay 
to the river bank. 

The road was continued up the west side of 
the river to the great carrying place and there 
on the site of Fort Nicholson, and subsequently 
of the fortified house of Lydius,^ a large and 

* Jolm Henry Lydius was a man of extensive acquire- 
ments and prominence. He was a son of John Lydius, the 
second Dutch Reformed minister of Albany, who succeeded 
Godfrey Dellius in his ministrations of the Holland church, 
and from whom Lydius street (now Madison avenue) was 
named. He died March 1, 1709. 

John Henry, the merchant and Indian trader, was born 
1693. From 1725 to 1730 he resided at Montreal, and mar- 
ried Genevieve Masse, a half breed. While here he carried 
on a trade and clandestine correspondence with Boston. 



106 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

expensive fort was laid out, wliicli was called 
Fort Lyman. It was built under the direction 
of Capt. Ejre, who kept three hundred men 
constantly at work upon them until the army 
marched to Lake St. Sacrament. It was fifteen 
hundred and sixty feet in circumference and of 
an irregular quadrangular form. Two of its 
sides were protected by Fort Edward Creek and 
the river. Its ramparts were sixteen feet high 
and twenty-two feet thick, which were guarded 

It is not true, as lias been stated, that lie abjured liis 
religion. On the contrary, he was tried for heresy and tam- 
pering with the Indians. It was shown that he received 
the Indians at his house, painted them, telling them that 
thus they should go to war. He also represented that the 
Catholic mysteries which the missionaries were announcing 
to them, were pure impositions, which they ought not to 
believe. He had objected to have his child baptized, and 
secretly had exhorted an Englishman, at the point of death, 
to persist in his heretical opinions, had assisted at his inter- 
ment, and performed the ceremonies according to the man- 
ner of English ministers. In consequence of this he was 
tried by a court-martial, and was condemned to pay a fine of 
three thousand livres and be banished the colony forever. 

In 1744, on the 20th of February, Beaubassin visited 
Lydius at his fortified house, at the great carrying place 
(Fort Edward), and slept there. Lydius then stated to him 
that in the spring two Englishmen intended to build a grist 
and a saw mill at the Little Fall (Whitehall), for the pur- 
pose of locating a company of Scotchmen (Capt. Laughlin's 
emigrants). 







OUTLET OF FORT ED"WAIID CREEK. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 107 

by six camion. Lient.-Colonel Bagley built a 
bridge across tlie creek, which was known as 
Bagley's bridge. The fort contained magazine, 
barracks, store-house and hospital, in addition 
to which large store-houses and barracks were 
reared on the island opposite, in the river. It 
took several years to complete the fort, which, 
when finished, was named Fort Edward, in 
honor of the Duke of York, brother of George 
the Third. 



In November, 1745, Lydius' house was plundered and 
burned by tlie Indians, under M. Marin, on their way to tho 
capture of Saraghtoga. His son was taken prisoner. The 
same winter Lydius went to Boston to represent to Gov. 
Shirley the necessity of taking Fort St. Frederick. 

In 1750 he was a citizen of Albany, and engaged in per- 
fecting the exchange of prisoners between the two nations. 
He excited the jealousy of Sir Wm. Johnson, who at one 
time considered him a dangerous man, and charged that he 
had sent a packet of letters to Canada, with an account of 
a skirmish which the Indians had had with the Albanians. 
Still he was recommended by Johnson, on his resignation 
as superintendent of Indian affairs, in 1757, as the most 
proper person to be appointed in his place. Lydius stood 
high in the confidence of Gov. Shirley, who was in the 
habit of intrusting to him his negotiations with the Indians. 
He effected the purchase whereby Connecticut became pos- 
sessed of the valley of the Wyoming. He owned extensive 
tracts in, and settled the town of Durham, county of Char- 
lotte. He removed to England, 1776, and died near Ken- 
sington, 1791, aged ninety-eight years. ^ 



108 LAKE GEORGE AND 

On the 8tli of August Gen. Johnson left 
Albany with the stores and artillery. He was 
also accompanied by Hendrick with fifty Mo- 
hawk warriors. He reached the great carrying 
place on the 14th, and was there joined by two 
hundred more braves. Here information was 
received that the French were concentrating a 
force of at least 6,000 men at Fort St. Frede- 
rick, that they intended also to fortify at Ticon- 
deroga, and if the army marched by the way 
of Wood creek, they would attack from South 
Bay. These reports from the Indians were con- 
firmed by Lieuts. Adams, Butler and Stevens, 
who each commanded an Indian company. 

A scouting party of forty soldiers and three 
Indians, having been sent out to reconnoiter, 
Johnson laid before a council of war the above 
information, and, at the same time, desired their 
opinion in regard to re-enforcements, also which 
way toward Crown Point tlie road should be 
opened, and the number of men necessary for 
that work. * 

The council unanimously decided that there 
was great urgency for re-enforcements, that the 
road to Lake St. Sacrament was the most eligible 
route, and that two thousand men and half the 
artillery and military stores, were the number 
that would be safe and sufficient to carry on 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 109 

that work and build a place of arms and maga- 
zines. The whole number of troops fit for duty 
was 2,932. 

The same day, August 24, Gen. Johnson 
inclosed to Gov. Delancey the minutes of the 
council of war, and stated that he had sent an 
express to Col. Blanchard to join him with all 
possible dispatch ; that he had many natural 
obstacles to expect ; that the French would 
probably outnumber him, but he would take 
post and fortify himself in some advantageous 
place this side of Crown Point, probably at 
Ticonderoga ; that they were greatly superior 
in Indians, and, all circumstances considered, 
very strong and speedy re-enforcements were 
necessary to the acquisition of Crown Point. 

The country, however, was already alive to 
the emergency. The 'New York Assembly had 
already resolved to raise 400, Connecticut 500, 
and Massachusetts 2,000, additional troops for 
this expedition. 

Aug. 25. Johnson moved out with the first 
division of fifteen hundred men, besides the 
Indians. The troops reached the lake on the 
evening of the 28th, and immediately went into 
camp on its border,"^ their flanks being protected 

* West of Fort George. 
10 



110 LAKE GEORGE AND 

by a tliickly wooded swamp, "where," he writes, 
" no house was ever before built, nor a rod of 
land cleared ; and the lake which the French call 
St. Sacrament^'^ I have given the name of Lake 
GEOKGE,f not only in honor of His Majesty, 
but to assert his undoubted dominion here." 

The plan of the General was, after building 
the fort, to cause the bateanx, about six hun- 
dred in number, to be brought up from Fort 
Lyman, and proceeding to Ticonderoga, tliere 
await re-enforcements, and then proceed to the 
attack on Crown Point. 

Sept. 3d. Gen. Lyman arrived, bringing up 
with him the rest of the troops and the heavy 
artillery. He left Col. Blanch ard in com- 
mand of the fort, with the ]^ew Hampshire 
Rangers and live companies of the l^ew York 
regiment. 

* Literally " Lake of tlie Blessed Sacrament," whicli 
name it obtained in 1646, from Father Joques, the Jesuit, 
who, on his way to the Iroquois country, passed through it 
on the festival of Corpus Christi. 

f The ancient Iroquois name of Lake George is Andia-ti- 
roc-te — "There the lake shuts itself." lis arriverant, la 
Veille du S. Sacrament au bout* du lac qui est joint au 
grand lac de Champlain. Les Iroquois le nomment Andia^ 
TiROCTE comme que disact la on le lac se feme. La Pere le 
nomma le lac du S. Sacrament. 

* Bout — The extremity as opposed to the other end. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. Ill 

In the month of March, 1755, a commission 
was issued by Lonis XI to the Baron de Dies- 
kan,^ appointing him to the command of the 
French troops in Canada, and giving him six 
battalions of 3,000 regulars, in addition to the 
troops already there. M. de Yandreuil, a Cana- 
dian by birth, and lately Governor of Louisi- 
ana, was appointed Governor of Canada, to 
succeed Duquesne, and accompanied Dieskau. 

May 3d. They embarked at Brest in a fleet 
of fourteen ships and two frigates, and reached 
Quebec on the 26th of June, with the loss of 
two vessels, which were captured by the English 
cruisers off [Newfoundland. 

On the 16th of August Dieskau moved up to 
Fort St. Frederick. His army for this purpose 
consisted of the regiments of La Heine and 
Languedock, amounting to 720 regulars, 1,500 
Canadians and 760 Indians, in all 3,000 men. 

Sept. 3d. The Baron moved down to Carillon 
(Ticonderoga), for the purpose of building a fort 
and occupying that important pass. On infor- 
mation received here from a prisoner, it was 
resolved " to turn the defensive into the offen- 
sive," and attack and overwhelm the camp at 
Fort Lyman. 

* A lieutenant-colonel of cavalry under the celebrated 
Marshal Saxe. 



112 LAKE GEORGE AND 

In consequence of this, tliere were ordered 
out a detachment of 216 regulars, 600 Cana- 
dians and all the Indians, making a force of 
1,500 men. By advice of the Indians, they 
resolved to go up Lake Champlain rather than 
by Lake St. Sacrament. The first night they 
encamped at the Two Eocks, and September 5th 
moved to the head of South Bay. 

6th. They left the bateaux under a guard of 
one hundred and twenty men, and marched 
three leagues toward Fort Lyman, the detach- 
ment carrying eight days' provisions on their 
backs. 

7th. Marched six leagues through the woods, 
and encamped within a league of the fort, 
intending to attack and carry the place the next 
morning, by a " coup de mainP Thereupon the 
commander called together the Indian chiefs, to 
explain to them his plan, and to assign to them 
their positions. After a delay of an hour or 
two, the chiefs returned to the Marshal, and 
stated that the Iroquois of the Sault^ to the 
number of 300, had refused to join in the 
attack, and as they were the oldest, the rest 
of the Indians would be obliged to follow 
their example. They had resolved " not to act 
against the English on their own territory^ hut 
if the General would lead them against the 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 113 

English camp at St. Sacrament^ which was 
undoubtedly on French soil^'^ thej would follow 
him there.* 

Ill consequence of this determination, the 
General changed his plans, and the next morn- 
ing at day-break moved toward Lake St. Sacra- 
ment, on the road which Johnson had built. 
The troops marched in three columns, the Cana- 
dians on the right, Indians on the left, and the 
regulars in the center. After a march of some 
hours a prisoner was brought in, who stated that 
Gen. Johnson had been informed of the march 
against Fort Lyman, and had detached 1,000 
men from his camp to re-enforce that place. 
Upon this information, Dieskau ordered the 
Indians and Canadians to move about three 
hundred paces in front, there to lie flat on the 
ground, so as not to be discovered, and not to 
make the slightest noise or discharge a gun 
until the French column had first fired, then to 
rise suddenly so as to take the English on both 
flanks. The center column having come to a 



* Rev, Courtlandt Van Rensselaer, in his historical dis- 
course on the battle of Lake George, states that the reason 
why the Indians refused to go on with the attack, was on 
account of their dread of cannon. But the above is from 
the official return. 
10* 



114 LAKE GEORGE AND 

halt, the plan of attack took the form of a cid 
de sac / and, had the orders been obeyed, there 




is not a doubt bnt the whole of the English 
detachment would have been captured. Unfor- 
tunately, some of the Iroquois, more curious 
than the others, rose up, and, perceiving that 
the English were accompanied by a party of 
Mohawks, notified the rest, whereupon the Iro- 
quois fired their guns in the air, as a warning 
that there was an ambuscade. 

Turning to the movements of the provincials, 
we find that Sunday evening, September 7th, the 
Eno-lish scouts discovered the roads which the 
French had made about South Bay, and gave in- 
formation of their movements. One Adams, a 
wagoner, volunteered to ride express with John- 
son's orders to Col. Blanchard, directing him to 
withdraw all his troops into the walls. The wag- 
oner was captured by the French Indians, and 
his dispatches carried to their commander. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN". 115 

On the morning of the 8th a conncil of war 
was called, in consequence of which one thou- 
sand men* were detached, under the command 
of Col. AVilliams and Lieut.-Col. Whiting, with 
two hundred Indians, led by Hendrick and 
Capts. Farrell, Stoddard and McKinnis. They 
marched between eight and nine o'clock. 

Meanw^hile Johnson ordered a rude breast- 
work to be constructed of felled trees and the 
wagons and bateaux. He also hauled the can- 
non around from the lake, and placed them in 
position pointed toward the river road.f The 
command of Col. Williams marched in two divis- 
ions, the first led by himself, the second under 
Lieut.-Col. Whiting. They proceeded to Rocky 
Brook, about two miles, where Williams halted 
until the other division came up, when the 

* It was at this council, first proposed to send five hun- 
dred men. Hendrick, when he was asked his opinion in re- 
gard to the number to be sent out, is said to have presented 
an arrow to Gen. Johnson, which he desired him to break 
which was of course easily done. Then he offered a bundle 
of arrows, with a similar request, which the general was 
unable to do. " If," says Hendrick " you propose to have 
them slaughtered they are too many, if to succeed, they are 
too few. 

f This and the action which followed was on the site of 
Fort George, and between that and the site of Fort Wm. 
Henry. 



116 LAKE GEORGE AND 

entire column moved on, preceded by the Indi- 
ans, led by Hendrick, who was riding on one of 
Gen. Johnson's horses. Unsuspicious of the 
proximity of the enemy, they press forward and 
enter the fatal defile, the Canadians and Indians 
being concealed on either side by thickets, trees 
and rocks. Suddenly they were stopped by the 
discharge of musketry and the terrific war- 
whoop. The fire was immediately returned, 
and Williams ordered his men to spread out 
upon the hill on their right. Here, however, 
they were met by the French Indians, who all, 
except the Iroquois, poured a volley into them. 
Col. Williams was, early in the action, shot 
through the head.* Hendrick had his horse 
shot under him. Being unwieldy, he was not 
able to disengage himself, and was stabbed with 
a bayonet. 

* Col. Epliraim Williams was a prominent actor in the 
scenes we commemorate. In the former war of 1744, he 
commanded the line of forts on the western side of the Con- 
necticut river, and resided principally at Fort Massachusetts, 
which was about three miles east of what is now Williams- 
town. In passing through Albany, on his way to the seat of 
war, he made his will on the 22d of July. After giving certain 
legacies to his relatives, he bequeathed the remainder of his 
property to the founding of a free school on the western 
frontiers of Massachusetts, at a place which received the 
name of Williamstown in honor of the donor. In 1790 the 



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LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 117 

Dieskau having ordered a general attack, tlie 
English were doubled up like a pack of cards, 
and hastily retreated. As the firing approached 
nearer the camp, Johnson beat to arms, and 
detached Lieut.-CoL Cole, with 300 men, to 
cover the retreat. About ten o'clock the troops 
came in in bodies. The breastwork was manned 
by the whole army, and a field-piece advan- 
tageously posted on the left flank on the rocky 
eminence. The followinsr is Gen. Johnson's 
own description of the battle : 

''About half after eleven the enemy appeared 
in sight, and marched along the road in very 
regular order, directly upon our center. They 
made a small halt about 150 yards from our 
breastwork, when the regular troops (whom we 
judged to be such by their bright and fixed 
bayonets) made the grand and center attack. 

sum had accumulated to nearly $20,000, $6,000 of which was' 
used, with a similar amount from other sources, in erecting 
a large building for the academy. In 1793 the academy 
was chartered by the State as a college, and was called 
Williams' College. It was a great thought in the mind of 
Williams to establish an institution of learning. His fame 
rests upon a more enduring rock than the reconnoitering 
stone of a military officer, and his monument is seen, not 
merely by glances in a mountain ravine, but on the high- 
way of nations, and in the heathen as well as the civilized 
world. Van Rensselaer. 



118 LAKE GEORGE AND 

The Canadians and Indians squatted and dis- 
persed upon our flanks. The enemy's lire we 
received first from the regulars, in platoons, but 
it did no great execution, being at too great a 
distance, and our men defended by the breast- 
work. Our artillery then began to play upon 
tliem, and was served under the direction of 
Capt. Eyre during the whole engagement, in a 
manner very creditable to him and those con- 
cerned in its manaeiement. The eno:ao:ement 
now became general. The regulars kept their 
ground and order for some time with great reso- 
lution, but the warm and constant fire from our 
artillery and troops put them into disorder. 
Their fire became more scattered and unequal, 
and on our left became very faint. They moved 
then to the right of our encampment, and 
attacked Col. Hus-orles', Col. Williams' and Col. 
Titcomb's regiments, where they maintained a 
warm fire for near an hour. The three resi- 
ments on the right supported the attack very 
resolutely, and kept up a strong and constant 
fire upon the enem}^ About four o'clock our 
men and Indians jumped over the breastwork, 
pursued the enemy, slaughtered numbers, and 
took several prisoners, among whom was Gen. 
Dieskau, who was brought to my tent about six 
o'clock, just as I was having a wound dressed. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN". 119 

Tlie engagement and pursuit ended about seven 
o'clock." 

The capture of Baron Dieskau is thus 
described by himself : 

" In moving toward the left so as to make signs to the 
Indians to advance, I approached unconsciously so close to 
the intrenchment that I received, in a moment, three balls 
in my legs, and one across my right knee, which precipitated 
me near a tree, behind which I crawled with the assistance 
of Chevalier de Montreuill, who had followed me. As this 
gentleman was the next to me in rank, and was unwilling 
to leave me, I ordered him, in the King's name, to go and 
assume the command, and, should he see its necessity, to 
make the best retreat he could, but to send me some men to 
remove me. Shortly afterward came two Canadians from 
him, one of whom was killed outright and fell on my legs, 
to my great embarrassment ; and as the other could not 
remove me by himself, I told him to bring me some more 
men ; but soon after I heard the retreat beaten, without see- 
ing any thing, being seated on ground somewhat low, with 
my back leaning against a tree. Having remained in that 
situation about half an hour, I saw one of the enemy's sol- 
diers within ten or twelve paces of me, taking aim at me, 
behind a tree. I made signs to him with my hand not to 
fire, but he did not fail to do so. The shot traversed both 
my hips. Leaping on me at the same time, he said (in very 
good French), ' Surrender !' I said to him, ' You rascal, 
why did you fire at me? You see a man lying on the 
ground bathed in his blood, and you fire, eh V He answered, 
* How did I know but you had a pistol ? I prefer to kill 
the devil than that the devil kill me.' ' You are a French- 
man, then?' I asked. 'Yes,' he replied, "tis more than 
ten years since I left Canada.' Whereupon divers others 
fell on me, and stripped me. I told them to carry me to 



120 LAKE GEORGE AND 

their general, which they did. On learning who I was, he 
had me laid on his bed, and sent for surgeons to dress my 
wounds, and, though wounded himself, he refused all attend- 
ance until mine were dressed. 

" Several Indians entered his tent soon after, who regarded 
me with a furious look, and spoke to him a long time, and 
with much vehemence. When they had departed, I 
observed, ' Those fellows have been regarding me with a 
look not indicative of much compassion.' 'Any thing else 
but that,' he answered, ' for they wished to oblige me to 
deliver you into their hands, in order to burn you, in revenge 
for the death of their comrades and of the three chiefs who 
have been slain in the battle, and threaten to abandon me 
if I do not give you up. Feel no uneasiness ; you are safe 
with me.' 

" The same Indians returned, some time after, to the tent. 
The conversation appeared to me animated at first, and 
became more moderate at the close, when, smiling, they took 
my hand in token of friendship, and retired. Gen. Johnson 
afterward told me that he had made my peace with them, and 
that they had abandoned all their pretensions. I observed, 
that as he was wounded himself, I was afraid I incommoded 
him, and requested him to have me removed elsewhere. ' I 
dare not,' he answered, ' for were I to do so, the Indians 
would massacre you. They must have time to sleep.' To- 
ward eleven o'clock at night, I was removed, under an 
escort of a captain and fifty men, to the tent of a colonel, 
where I passed the night. The guard had orders not to 
suflfer any Indians to approach ^me. Nevertheless, one of 
them came next morning near the tent, and the sentinel, 
seeing that he was not armed, allowed him to enter, but the 
moment he was in, he drew a naked sword from under a 
sort of cloak he wore, and approached to stab me, where- 
upon the colonel, in whose tent I was, threw himself 
between us, disarmed the Indian, and put him out. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 121 

"I remained nine days in the English camp, and Gen. 
Johnson, having caused a litter to be made, had me 
removed to his house at Orange,* and at the end of four 
weeks to New York, where I fell into the hands of very 
bad surgeons. 

" This is all I can tell you about my unfortunate expedi- 
tion, which has been unlucky, not for me alone, the English 
having lost a much greater number of men than I, without 
gaining an inch of territory." 

Shortly after the commencement of the action 
Gren. Johnson received a painful wound, which 
obliged him to retire to his tent, when the com- 
mand devolved on Gen. Lvman, who behaved 
with distinguished bravery. 

The misfortunes of the French were not over. 
Col. Blanchard, at Fort Lyman, having heard 
the firing, dispatched a party of two hundred 
and fifty men of the New Hampshire and IS'ew 
York regiments, under Capt. Maginness of 
Schenectady, with orders to proceed to the as- 
sistance of the General. Having arrived to 
where the action took place in the morning, 
they discovered the enemy's baggage lying in 
the road, and at some distance, on the top of a 
hill, five or six men keeping a lookout. They 
got between the baggage and the men, and, 
advancing up the road, discovered a party of 



* Albany. 

11 



122 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Canadians and Indians to the number of three 
hundred, sitting by Rocky Brook and the marshy 
pond refreshing themselves from their packs. 
They attacked and defeated them, killed num- 
bers and put the rest to flight. 

The number that fell at this engagement was 
so great that the brook issuing from the water 
was the next morning observed to be discolored 
with blood. Hence the name of Bloody Pond 
was given to the pool. 

Thus closed the battle of Lake George, com- 
prising three engagements in one day. The 
French loss was about four hundred men. It 
included La Gardeur de St. Pierre, the same 
who had defeated Washington the previous year 
on the Ohio. That of the provincials was two 
hundred and sixty-two, besides officers, and 
thirty-eight allied Indians. Among the losses, 
in addition to Col. Williams and the great Hen- 
drick, was Col. Titcomb, Major Ashley, Capts. 
Keys, Porter, Ingersoll and twelve other officers. 
The brave Capt. Maginness died two days after, 
of his wounds, in camp. 

The result of this action, being in glorious 
contrast to the disasters elsewhere, caused great 
rejoicing among the English. It was the event 
of the campaign of 1755. *' Solitary in the 
honor of its military triumph, and shining 




BLOODY POND. 



LAKE CHAJVIPLAIN. 123 

out briglit as Mars from the clouds of niglit."* 
The House of Lords made an elegant address. 
Parliament voted a gratuity of five thousand 
pounds to Gen. Johnson, who was also made a 
baronet. The Governor appointed Thursday, the 
second day of October, as a day of thanksgiving 
for the defeat of the enemy. 

Two days after, the General received a depu- 
tation from the Six Kations, who informed him 
that pursuant to their custom after an engage- 
ment, they now intended to return to their 
homes, as their loss was very considerable, both 
in numbers and in the personal consequence of 
the slain. f 

* Rev, C. Van Rensselaer. 

f Rev. Mr. Hartwick, missionary to the Mohawks, writing 
to tliem under date of Jan. 15, 1756, in regard to the death 
of the great Hendrick, says : " Let it be to your comfort that 
he died in a good cause as a faithful ally and a brave cap- 
tain, and sleepeth on the bed of honor, where his name will 
be a good savior as long as a free Englishman and a faithful 
Mohawk remains ; and as he hath been your brother, your 
father and your captain, it is your duty to be a guard to the 
bed whereon he sleepeth, that no perfidious Frenchman may 
disturb the rest of his bones and ashes ; and if the French 
and their slaves will not rest satisfied with the little revenge 
you have taken from them, and desist from their encroach- 
ments and cruel ravages, and restore what they have unjustly 
taken, then stand up for your and your brethren's rights, 
and revenge the dear blood so unjustly spilled." 



124 LAKE GEORGE AND 

On tlie 16tli of September Gen. Johnson 
writes to Gov. Hardj that the expedition " was 
likely to be distressed for the want of wagons. 
Most of the wagoners taken into the ser\dce 
have deserted, the horses are quite jaded, and 
some few killed by the enemy, while several 
have ran away. Most of the provisions are at 
Albany, a great part of the ammunition at the 
lower camp (Fort Lyman), and all the boats, 
except about 120. We have only sixty wagons, 
and had not two days' allowance of bread when 
they arrived. To bring up a sufficiency of pro- 
visions will require 500 wagons at least." 

Meanwhile the breastwork was strengthened, 
and carried quite around the camp, the ground 
cleared, and a picketed fort built, which Col. 
"Williams had in charge till the visit of the 
enemy put an end to his life. Flat bottom boats 
were also built for the transport of the artillery 
and stores. 

Johnson has been blamed for " not moving 
directly upon the enemy's works ;" but the rea- 
sons why he did not proceed must be obvious 
to every military (or unmilitary) mind. 1. The 
French outnumbered him at St. Frederick. 2. 
They occupied and were fortifying the pass at 
Carillon. 3. He had neither provisions, ammu- 
nition or transportation. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 125 

By the time the re-enforcements and supplies 
had come up, the council of war, considering 
the advanced period of the year, decided that it 
was not advisable to proceed further this season. 

Sept. 10th. The General ordered up Col. 
Blanchard, with his regiment, from Fort Lyman,^ 
in which were Capt. Robert Rogers, John Stark 
and others of revolutionary fame. 

After the fort was constructed, which was 
named William Henry,f the troops, except six 
hundred who remained in garrison at the two 
places, were withdrawn to Albany and dis- 
banded. 



* Dr. Fitch states, on the authority of Timothy Eddy, that 
Catharine, daughter of John Henry Lydius (referred to at 
page 109, ante), was born at Fort Edward, about 1744, and 
was the JBrst child born of civilized parents in Washington 
county. She married Henry Cuyler, and died about 1818, at 
Greenbush. 

f It was named in honor of the Duke of Cimiberland, 
brother to George IH. 




11 



* 



126 LAKE GEOEGE 

References to Samuel Blodgett's map of the 
Second Engagement. 

6. Canadians and Indians, 

7. French regulars attacking the center. 

8. The road. 

9. Provincials in action posted in front. 
• 10. The trees felled for the breastworks. 

11. Cannon. 

12. A cannon posted " advantageously " on the eminence. 

13. Place where Dieskau fell. 

14. 15. Canadians' attack. 

16. The man that shot Dieskau. 

17. Reserves. 

18. Woods and swamp. 

19. Morass. 

20. Cannon defending the flank. 

21. Baggage wagons. 

22. 23, 24. Stores and ammunition. 

25. Mortars. 

26. Road to the lake. 

27. 28, 29. Store-houses. 

30. Mohawks. 

31. Gen. Johnson's tent. 

32. Lyman's regiment. 

33. Col. Harris' company. 

34. Col. Cockroft. 

35. Col. Williams. 

36. Col. Ruggles. 

37. Col. Titcomb. 

38. Col. Guttridge. 

39. Officers. 

The map, besides being very unique, possesses great his- 
torical value. Blodgett appears to have been a sutler for 
the rangers. His name occurs three years after. 



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CHAPTER VII. 

WiNSLOW's EXPEDITION — BUILT A FORT AT STILLWATER — JOURNAL 
OP THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SCOUTS — ROGERS — PUTNAM — SYMS — 
DOOLITTLE — ROGERS' SKIRMISH WITH THE FRENCH PICKET — 
HENDRICK AND NICHLA8 — CAPT. ANGELL — CAPT. CONNER — 
THODAY — THOMPSON — PUTNAM AND SCHUYLER — FALES — ROG- 
ERS' WINTER EXCURSION — HIS NAVAL ENGAGEMENT ON LAKE 
CHAMPLAIN — DE LA COLUMBIERE — TICONDEROGA, FORT BUILT — 
ROGERS' AND STARK'S WINTER EXPEDITION TO CROWN POINT — 
FRENCH WINTER EXPEDITION AGAINST WM. HENRT — CAPTURE OF A 
TRAIN AT HALFWAY BROOK — PURSUIT BY ROGERS. 

1756. 

K tlie summer of 1Y56, six thousand 
troops were collected under Col. Seth 
"VYinsloWj who commanded the expe- 
dition which the previous year had 
reduced Acadia."^ At Stillwater he built a 
stockade known as Fort Winslow, which served 
as a depot for supplies. f He advanced with his 

*Beausley Glazier was made tlie adjutant-general of the 
forces, and Col. Eleazur Fitcli the third in command. 

f The fort was on the elevated ground at the north end 
of the village, about where the Presbyterian church now 
stands, and on the flat below this, a few rods from the river, 
were the store-houses, two long buildings, which were kept 
in good repair and continued to be used for the public ser- 
vice through the revolutionary war. Dickinson. 




128 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

army as far as Fort Edward and Lake George, 
but his orders did not permit him to go further, 
and the tide of war swept over other portions 
of the continent. 

The two nations having now each a fort upon 
either extremity of Lake George, and but thirty 
miles apart, the same became a scene of petty 
warfare, that has clothed every pass, island, river 
and bay with some tradition of hair-breadth 
escape, heroic endurance or startling incident. 

1. From the journals of the I^ew Hampshire 
scouts we learn that as early as September 24, 
1755, Capt. Robert Rogers commenced his fa- 
mous partisan career, by setting forward with 
two men to reconnoiter Fort St. Frederick, the 
new works at Carillon, and the army there. He 
returned on the 25th. 

2. September 27, p. m. He set forward again 
in a birch canoe, with five men, to reconnoiter the 
encampment at " Tirondarogue ; " past sundry In- 
dian fires (their spies) by the side of the lake ; put 
ashore seven miles from the carrying place and 
went forward on foot; about ten a. m. they 
came in view of an encampment, on the lake, of 
about one thousand men; "we crawled through 
their guards to within about thirty or forty rods 
of the encampment ; there was no fort or artil- 
lery there; we retired and went about a mile 




ISKAEL PUTNAM. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 129 

and a half further and discovered their grand 
encampment; crept through their guards to 
within about sixty rods ; found a fort building 
there and cannon mounted ; by the appearance 
of the tents we judged there might be three 
thousand troops ; the situation commands the 
passage at the carrying place and also up and 
down Lake Champlain ; on our return waylaid a 
canoe with one Frenchman and nine Indians ; 
disabled six and cliased the remaining four." 

3. October 7th. Went out with a party of 
fifty men, including Capt. Israel Putnam ; saw 
twenty-three of the enemy and made a decoy 
for them, of one canoe, but they would not fol- 
low it ; returned on the 11th. 

4. Oct. 13th. Capt. Syms went out with fifty 
men, about three miles on the west side of the 
lake. Toward evening he posted a sentry, who 
was shot and scalped, and a hatchet left in his 
head. The enemy were probably four or five 
Indians. Capt. Syms ordered all to arms, and 
proceeded to the place, when, to his astonish- 
ment, he had but fifteen men with him. On 
looking back, they cried, " For God's sake call 
us together, or we shall be cut ofi"," upon which 
" I ordered them to spread out in the form of a 
half moon in order to discover the enemy. I 
was deserted by all but five or six men except 



130 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

the lieutenant. On my return to camp we 
found the men in great distress, tying up their 
packs, upon which I doubled the guard, and 
ordered all to stand their ground, upon their 
peril. I could prevail upon but thirteen men 
to proceed further, and therefore judged best to 
return. I now stand ready upon all orders to 
pursue your commands to a tittle on my part, 
provided I can have such materials as are fit for 
the purpose ; and whenever I fail, let me be 
stigmatized."* 

5. Lieut. Jelles Fonda, with a sergeant and 
twelve men, having orders to go forward on the 
scout, came upon a party commanded by Lieut. 
Yan Schaick, and on asking the reason why he 
returned so soon, or why they had not pro- 
ceeded, stated that one of their men was sick 
and unfit to proceed. He then came up with 
the party above, commanded by Capt. Syms. 
He gave them orders to march forward, which 
they all, excepting two, refused to do. He then 
directed his own party to take their blankets 
and provisions and go forward, which they 
refused to give up except to their own officers. 

Fonda says : " I then called and said, ^All you 
that are cowards come and I will take your 



* Syms' report to Gen. Johnson. 



LAKE CHAMPLAm. 131 

names down ;' and tliey came so thick that I 
could see but ten or twelve left of the whole 
party, who were mostly New Yorkers. I then 
asked the commander what he would do, or 
whether he understood me that he was to go 
forward. He said he believed he would come 
back, so we returned to the camp." 

6. October 14. Capt. Kogers and four men 
embarked in a birch canoe, sailed twenty-five 
miles, landed on the west side of the lake, then 
traveled by land, and on the 18th arrived on the 
mountain on the west side of Fort St. Frederick, 
lay there that night and the next day, and ob- 
served the enemy's motions. In the evening I 
went down to the houses that were built upon 
the lake, and went into a barn filled with wheat, 
and proceeded with one man to make further 
discoveries ; ambushed within sixty rods of the 
fort until about ten o'clock ; judged the number 
in the fort to be about five hundred ; at length 
a Frenchman came out without his gun and 
came within fifteen rods of us when I, with an- 
other man, ran up to him to capture him ; he 
refused to surrender, so we killed him, and took 
off his scalp, within plain sight of the fort, and 
then ran and made our escape ; the same night 
came in sight of " Tianarago," and upon a 
mountain in plain sight of their fort, we saw 



132 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

large encampments and judged there were two 
thousand men ; got to our canoes about eight 
o'clock in the morning and found all safe and 
well. 

7. October 24. Capt. Doolittle went out to 
Carillon and found that the advance or flying 
camp of the French, comprising about one hun- 
dred men, was on the west side of the lake, below 
the narrows. 

8. October 26. Capt. Reed passed over to 
South Bay, but made no discovery. 

EOGERS' SKIRMISH. 

9. October 29. Pursuant to orders, went down 
the lake with the party ordered to me, and on 
the thirty-fi'rst discovered their fires situated on 
a point of land on the west side of the lake,* 
upon which we landed, on the same side, about 
a mile and a half distant from their encamp- 
ment, and the next morning sent out scouts for 
further discovery ; in the evening Capt. Fletcher, 
one of the scouts, returned and reported that 
there were four tents and sundry small fires on 
the said point ; I then took a bateau, with five 
men, and went down within twenty-five rods of 
their fires and discovered a small fort with seve- 
ral log camps within it, which I judged to con- 

* Probably at Friend's Point, in Hague. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN 133 

tain about a quarter of an acre. The next 
morning Capt. Putnam returned and gave pretty 
much the same account ; for a more critical ex- 
amination of the enemy's proceedings he went 
forward until he was so nigli that he was fired 
upon by a sentry within a rod of him ; but, unfor- 
tunately, Putnam, upon preparing to fire back, 
fell into a clay pit and wet his gun ; hearing the 
enemy close upon his heels, he made the best 
retreat he was able, and luckily escaped safe to 
our party ; soon after there was a discovery made 
of two Frenchmen upon a hill a small distance 
off, which overlooked our ambush, who called 
to us, but in a few minutes they retreated. 
Two canoes then appeared and w^ent by us, and 
lay in the middle of the lake, about forty rods 
distant from each other ; so that finding there 
was a party coming by land, I lay between 
two fires ; on this, I ordered two bateaux into 
the water, put Lieut. Grant, witli six men, in one 
and I went with six men in the other ; we put 
them to rout, and surprised them so that they 
made for the shore where Capt. Putnam, with 
the rest of our party, lay. He was prepared for 
them and shot and killed the cockswain, and bv 
our wall pieces, we killed divers of them ; but 
upon Putnam's firing into the boats, the enemy 
that was upon his back fired upon him, and he 
12 



134: LAKE GEORGE AND 

had but just time to shove his bateau into the 
water and get into it before tlie enemy were 
upon the water's edge and opened a brisk fire 
upon him ; shot through his blanket in several 
places, and through the bateau. We pursued 
their canoes to within about eighty rods of their 
fires ; discovered a number of men within forty 
rods of us on the shore, on each side, gave them 
each a broadside which sent them into the 
bushes, and gave us a clear passage homeward. 
Had one wounded after an eno^ao-ement which 
lasted two hours. 

10. I^ov. 2. Hendrick and Kicklas, two Mo- 
hawks, went upon a scout toward Crown Point 
and Carillon, but made no fresh discoveries ; 
returned on the 11th. 

11. Nov. 3. Capt. Angell put out from the 
camp, and about seven miles out saw a fire on 
the east side of the lake, on a neck of lowland.' 
About fourteen miles, on the west shore, saw 
another fire, which he passed at two or three 
miles distant. The wind blew fresh, and it 
rained and was very dark. Landed and went 
on to a very high mountain; saw no smoke, 
only at a great distance, toward Carillon, and 
returned. 

12. Nov. 5. James Conner, with five men, 
went out to discover the position of the enemy's 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 135 

advanced camp. Lay at the moutli of the Nar- 
rows that night. All next day lay still till even- 
ing, about seven o'clock, then went on, and 
about ten o'clock came in between two of their 
flank fires, and saw them relieving their guard. 
A breastwork was around their encampment, 
with pickets, and several log-houses ; judged it 
might contain 150 men. Joined the other men 
at the bateau; lay still till about twelve 
o'clock at night, then set off; at three o'clock 
in the morning struck up a little fire upon a 
small island about twenty miles from home ; 
half an hour afterward heard a whooping of 
Indians on the w^est side of the lake ; kept a 
strict watch till morning, and then returned 
home. 

13. ]^ov. 8. Michael Thoday^ was sent out 
on a scout to South Bay and the falls of Wood 
creek (Whitehall). Discovered four Indians and 
three Frenchmen by the rise of smoke from a 
little hut on a side-hill; lay in ambush; shortly 
the sentry discovered four of them coming 
within a rod or two of him, but having a great 
cold he was seized with a fit of coughing, 
although he put his hand to his mouth ; upon 



* Tlioday's name appears as a mustering oflBcer in Aber- 
crombie's expedition, in 1758. 



136 LAKE GEORGE AND 

wliicli, tliinlving be was discovered, he fired 
upon them ; one dropped and screamed out bit- 
terly. The party then retm^ned. 

14. Nov. 13. Sergeant Thompson, of the 
Hhode Island regiment, with four men, went 
down the lake at seven o'clock in the evening. 
Landed on an island about eight miles off; 
struck up a fire and had supper, when Conner 
joined them, and they set off to a small island"^ 
about a mile this side of the Narrows ; went 
ashore and reconnoitered ; then went around the 
island twice in a bateau, by which time it was 
sunrise, and immediately a large white flag was 
hoisted on a point of the main-land on the east 
side of the lake, supposed to be a signal of the 
enemy. 

15. 15th. Capt. Israel Putnam and Stephen 
Schuyler passed over to South Bay ; went down 
the lake; saw a large body of ducks and geese, 
but no enemy. 

16. lYth. Capt. Fales, with a party, went 
down the wagon road about three miles, turned 
to the east and north, and returned to the camp. 

17. Jan. 29, 1756. Capt. Kobert Rogers set 
out with a party of fifty men on snow-shoes, to 
look into Fort St. Frederick. The first day 



* Possibly Dome island. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 137 

tliey marched eighteen miles, and so proceeded 
till Febrnarj 2d, when they " clambered up a 
great mountain west of Crown Point, and gave 
it the name of Mt. Ogden. Took a particular 
view of the fort and redoubts, and in the even- 
ing came down ; marched through a small vil- 
lage to about half a mile of the fort to the 
southward ; then lay in ambnsh till nine o'clock 
in the morning, when a Frenchman came along, 
wdiom we captured. Two more came along, but 
discovering our ambush, made their escape. So, 
being discovered, we immediately set fire to the 
barns and houses, where there was an abundance 
of wheat and other grains. "We killed their 
cattle, horses and hogs, in number about fifty, 
and about eleven o'clock of the 6th of Febru- 
ary, set out homeward." 

18. June 20. Pursuant to an order from 
Major-General Shirley, Capt. Kogers set out 
with a party of fifty men, in five whale-boats, 
and proceeded down Lake George about twenty- 
five miles, then landed* and took their boats six 
miles over a mountain to South Bay, where they 
arrived July 3d, and passed down Lake Cham- 
.plain to within six miles of Ticonderoga. July 
4:th, in the evening, they set out again, and 



* At Bosom Bay. 

12* 



138 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

passed by Ticonderoga, although they went so 
near as to hear the sentry's watchword. Judged 
the number of the enemy to be about two thou- 
sand ; " hauled up at daylight five miles from 
the fort; lay quiet all day. 6th. Saw near a 
hundred boats pass, seven of which came near 
us, and asked to land at the point where we lay, 
but their officer went further on, and landed 
about t^venty-iive rods from us, and dined in 
our view. About nine o'clock p. m. set out 
again ; passed the fort at Crown Point about 
ten miles, and hauled up the boats at break 
of day. 7th. Set out again ; proceeded fifteen 
miles further down, and went ashore upon a 
point upon the east side (Otter creek), and sent 
a party further down the lake for discovery. 
About three o'clock two lighters came up the 
lake, who we found intended to land where we 
were. We fired upon the vessels, and offered 
them quarter if they would come ashore, but 
instead they put ofl' in their boats to the oppo- 
site side, but we intercepted them, and found 
twelve men, three of which were killed and two 
wounded. One of tlie wounded could not 
marcli, therefore put an end to him to prevent 
discovery. As soon as the prisoners were secure, 
we employed ourselves in sinking and destroy- 
ing A^essels and cargoes, which were chiefly 



LAKE CHAMPLALN". 139 

wheat, flour, rice, wine, and brandy, except 
some few casks of the wine and brandy, which 
we hid in very secure places, with our whale- 
boats, at some distance on the opposite shore. 
On the morning of the 8th we set forward on 
our return, and pursued our march till the 12th, 
when we arrived on the west side of Lake 
George, about twenty-five miles from the fort. 
Here we sent Lieut. Roo'ers for bateaux and 

CD 

provisions to carry us in by water." 

Meanwhile the French were not idle, and up 
to the close of June had brought in seventy-five 
prisoners and forty-five scalps, two of whom 
were officers. 

19. At the end of July, a Canadian officer on 
a scout, near Fort Wm. Henrv, met twoEns^lish 
bateaux with thirty -five men ; killed thirty and 
captured five. 

20. Aug. 6. Capt. De la Columbiere, at the 
head of sixty men, stopped sixteen English 
horsemen, on the road near Lake George ; killed 
nine ; took seven prisoners ; and brought horses 
and plunder to Carillon. 

During the year the French, under the 
direction of their chief engineer, M. de Lot- 
biniere, completed their fortress at Ticonde- 
roga ; although it was claimed that it was 
improperly located and faulty in construction. 



140 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

In October Winslow retired from Fort Edward, 
and tlie troops, except what were required for 
garrison duty, were disbanded. De Levi also 
withdrew his outposts from Lake George, and 
broke up his encampment at Carillon, not, how- 
ever, before the snow was a foot deep, and 
retired to Montreal. 

21. January 21, 1757. Major Hogers, with 
Lieut. Stark, of Blanchard's regiment, set out 
on a reconnoisance and for the purpose of taking 
some prisoners at Crown Point or Ticonderoga. 
At a place since known as Putnam's Creek, on 
Lake Champlain, they ambushed a merry-making 
party who were convoying some provisions from 
St. Frederick to Carillon ; seven of the sledges 
were captured, with twice the number of horses. 
The news was borne down to M. de Lusii>:nan, 
the commandant at Carillon, who swiftl}^ sent 
out an avenging party of two hundred and fifty 
men to intercept them ; they overtook the in- 
truders about three o'clock, who retired to a 
rising ground ; they received the first fire when 
not twenty feet from the enemy ; Pogers was 
wounded on the wrist and also on the head, aud 
the command devolved on Stark, who kept up 
a steady fire from two o'clock until sunset. 
While encouraocina: his men a bullet struck the 
lock of his gun and shattered it in pieces. 



LAKE CHAMPLAEN". 1-11 

Springing forward on a reeling Frenchman, lie 
wrenched his piece from his dying grasp and 
resumed the fight.* Thus they stood, in snow 
four feet deep, imtil, in the cold of that January 
night, the French withdrew with a loss of eleven 
killed and twenty-six wounded.f The provin- 
cials now retired, with a loss of forty-two killed 
and missing. All night they marched through 
the woods to the borders of Lake George. 
Here, leaving the command. Stark, with two 
companions on snow-shoes, pushed forward to 
AYilliam Henry. Having obtained sleds for the 
wounded, and refreshments, he without delay 
set out for his companions, reaching their 
bivouac the next mornino^, havins^ traversed to 
and from, a distance of forty miles. Finally he 
drew a loaded sled back to the fort. He thus 
stood out three days and two nights of excessive 
toil, four hours of which was in the excitement 
of battle, thereby presenting such a case of 
heroism and physical endurance as has been 
rarely equaled. 

19. In the month of February an expedition 
was fitted out at Montreal for an attack on Fort 



* Headley. 

f This battle is said to liave been fouglit near the residence 
of M. B. Townsend, in Crown Point. 



142 LAKE GEORGE AND 

William Henry. It was composed of five com- 
panies of picked men, from the regiments of 
regulars, three hundred of the Colonial troops, 
six hundred and fifty militia and three hundred 
Indians ; the whole comprising fifteen hundred 
men, under the command of Regazzd De Yau- 
dreuil, brother of the Governor-General of 
Canada; they marched in four divisions and 
rendezvoused at Carillon. 

March 15. The entire body of troops moved 
out '' on snow-shoes, carrying their provisions on 
sleds, drawn by dogs, and sleeping in the 
snow upon a bear skin, under a simple sail to 
keep off the wind."^ On the ITth, at seven 
o'clock in the evening, they arrived within a 
league of William Henry. f Captain Poullan- 
ing, with two other officers, was dispatched to 
reconnoiter the fort, from a hill by which it is 
commanded. :j: 



* Montcalm to Argenson, Doc. x, 547. 

f Probably Rattlesnake Hill, Ed. 

I While going his rounds, on the evening of the sixteenth, 
Capt. Stark overheard a squad of his men, who were of 
the Scotch-Irish race, planning a celebration in honor of St. 
Patrick, for the next night. He afterward said he had then 
no presentiment of approaching danger, but disliked these 
wild Irish demonstrations. He therefore called for the 
ranger sutler, Samuel Blodgett, and gave him directions to 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 143 

On the 19tli Yaudreuil set fire to some of 
the bateaux. 



deliver the rangers tlieir regular rations of grog until the 
evening of tlie seventeenth, and after that no more without 
a written order from himself. On that evening he retired 
to his quarters, directing his orderly-sergeant to say to all 
applicants for written orders, that he was confined to his 
hunk with a lame right hand, and would not be disturbed. 
The Irish troops (regulars) secured an extra supply of rum 
on the night of the sixteenth, and commenced their carousal, 
which they carried on with unabated vigor through tlie 
night and during the ensuing day in honor of St. Patrick 
and his wife Sheelah. They drank so freely that the oflBcer 
of the day could find none of them fit for duty as sentinels, 
and the rangers who were sober supplied their places. The 
rangers, seeing the Irish thus enjoying themselves, desired 
the same privilege. The sutler informed them of his orders, 
and the captain's quarters were beset to obtain a written 
order. The sergeant refused to disturb his officer, as he 
was confined with a painfully lame right hand, and could 
not write. The soldiers felt somewhat cross, but bore their 
disappointment like philosophers. At two o'clock on the 
morning of the eighteenth, a ranger sentinel on the ram- 
parts, observed a light upon the lake, and soon afterward 
became aware that a large force was advancing in the direc- 
tion of the fortress. Notice was at once conveyed to the 
ranger captain. The lame hand was instantly restored to 
health, and he was among his soldiers. The commander 
of the fort was quietly notified, and the rangers silently 
mustered. The near approach of danger dissipated the 
fumes of liquor from the brains of the regulars, and the 
gai rison was soon in condition for a rigorous defense. 

Caleb Stark. 



14:4: LAKE GEOKGE ANT> 

20th. He invested the fort and detached a 
party of Indians on the road leading to Fort 
Edward to cut oif the communication. On the 
nights of the 20th and 21st they burnt all there 
was outside the ramparts, consisting of three 
hundred bateaux, four sloops of ten and sixteen 
guns, two long boats of fifty oars, a saw-mill, a 
large pile of building timber, three hundred 
cords of fire- wood, two magazines full of provis- 
ions, including four hundred barrels of flour, 
militarv stores and effects, and a small stockade 
w^itli a dozen houses, which served as a hospi- 
tal.^ They retired with a loss of five killed 
and two wounded. The fort at the time was 
under the command of Lieut. -Col. Eyre, " en- 
gineer in ordinary," who built the same. 

Julv 21. Chevalier La Corne and M. Con- 
treveur took their departure from Carillon, at 
the head of a flying camp of 500 Canadians 
and 200 Indians, and moved up to South Bay 
to observe the motions of the English troops 
between Fort Edward and Lake George. At 
Half-way brook they fell upon a train of wag- 
ons, under convoy of a body of troops, who 



* The remains of one of the schooners can now be seen 
on a still day, at the north-east of Fort William Henry, in 
about twenty feet of water. 




CANAGHSIONE, OR PUT'S ROCK, ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 145 

were transporting supplies, for AYinslow s army, 
to Fort William Henry. The soldiers made but 
little resistance, the train was plundered, and 
the marauders escaped with their booty down 
toward Ticonderoga. Capts. Kogers and Put- 
nam, with a hundred men and twenty-five small 
cannon, were immediately dispatched to inter- 
cept them. Proceeding down the lake, they 
hastened overland to the Two Pocks, about 
eight miles below. Here, while concealed, they 
espied the bateaux, laden with plunder and 
unsuspicious of danger, approaching them. On 
reaching the I^arrows the rangers poured into 
them a well-directed fire, by wliich many of the 
boatmen were killed and some of the boats 
were sunk, but, driven by the south wind, tlie 
remainder swept through the passage, and 
escaped to Carillon with the intelligence of the 
disaster. The rangers now hastened back to 
their boats, reaching them at the close of the 
day. The next morning they embarked, and at 
Sabbath-day point discovered the French and 
Indians eagerly approaching them, and antici- 
pating an easy victory. 'No resistance was 
offered until the enemy was within pistol shot, 
when from the cannon and muskets was sent 
forth such a shower of balls as threw them into 
confusion. Men were seen dropping overboard 
13 



146 LAKE GEORGE 

from the enemy's boats, and of twenty Indians 
in one, only five remained. Tliey soon drew 
back, and tlie rangers passed on without further 
molestation, with a loss of one man killed and 
two wounded. 

22. A considerable detachment of Canadi- 
ans and Indians, under Capt. De la Pierre, 
caused the provincials to abandon some of the 
islands in Lake George where they had estab- 
lished themselves. 

23. Lieut. Marin, having been detached with 
one hundred men to reconnoiter the camp at 
Fort William Henry, captured and killed a 
party of fifty-two men and three ofiicers, only 
one of whom escaped. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

Montcalm's expedition — composition op his army — scouting 
party of st. ours — marin sent to fort edward — naval 
tictory over col. parker— the march and sail to fort wm. 
henry — incident — the seige — indian burial — the surren- 
der — the massacre — the prisoners — sent home — fort dis- 
mantled and destroyed — montcalm retires to carillon. 

^^^^^IIE commission to the Marquis de 
■^""'^ Montcalm, appointing him to the com- 
mand of the troops in Canada, which 
^f^ became vacant by the capture of the 
Baron Deiskau, was issued March 1. 1Y56.* 

He was accompanied by the Chevalier de Levi, 
brigadier-general, and Col. Sieur Boulimaque ; 

* Louis Joseph Marqviis de Montcalm, was born at the 
Chateau of Candiac, near Nianus, 1712. At the a^e of 
fourteen he commenced his military career. He became 
colonel in 1745. Received three wounds in the battle of 
Placensia, in Italy, June 16, 1746, and two at Piedmont, 
1747, in which year he was appointed brigadier. In 1756 
he was appointed major-general, commander of the order 
of St. liouis in 1757, lieutenant-general in 1758, and 
was mortally wounded before Quebec, September 13. 1759. 
His remains were interred, by torch-light, in the church of 
the Ursuline convent. It is said he was buried in a hole 
made by a shell — "a fit tomb for a warrior who died on 
the field of honor." 



1^1:8 LAKE GEORGE AND 

also by two additional regiments, wliicli arrived 
at Quebec by tliree sliips of war, and three 
frigates, on the 12th of May. 

August 10th. Montcalm invested Oswego. 
In his train of artillery were six brass pieces, 
captured from Gen. Braddock. Col. Mercer, 
the commander of the fort, was killed on the 
thirteenth, and the next day the garrison sur- 
rendered. Hardly had the fort capitulated, 
when the French Indians, exasperated by the 
loss of some of their braves, uttered their terrific 
war-cry, and with the tomahawk and knife were 
about to fall upon the unarmed prisoners. The 
massacre that would have ensued was, however, 
prevented by the prompt action of Montcalm, 
who ordered out a file of men and commanded 
them to fire upon his red allies. Six of the 
savages fell dead upon the spot, and the remain- 
der, uttering threats of vengeance, sulkily put up 
their knives, and skulked back to their quarters.'^' 
The fortresses were leveled to the ground, and 
Oswego w^as left a solitude, unbroken, save by 
tlie hooting of the owl or the scream of the 
panther. Returning triumphant, Montcalm lost 
no lime in arranging for the expedition against 
Fort William Henry. At Montreal he held a 

* Stone's Life of Sir Wm. Johnson, ii, 23. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 149 

council of Indian tribes, gathered from [N'ova 
Scotia to Lake Superior, mingling in their 
dances and chanting their war-song. July 12th 
he proceeded up Lake Champlain to Fort Car- 
illon, accompanied by warriors of the following 
tribes : 

Abenakis, Algonkins, 

AmeleciteSj Ayetois, 

Folles, Foxes, 

Hurons, L-oquois of the Soult. 

Loups, Micmacs, 

Mirames, Nepissings, 

Ottawas, Ouillas, 

Puans, Poutouatomes, 

Sacs, Santanes. 

In all they numbered 1,806, 

As they traversed the lake, their dexterity in 
fishing furnished an interesting spectacle. Stand- 
ing up in the bow of the canoe, with spear in 
hand, they darted it with wonderful address, 
and struck the large sturgeons [muscalonges — 
Ed.] without their little skiff (which the least 
irregular motion would have overturned) appear- 
ing to lean in the slightest degree either to the 
right or the left. Yet, useful as the fishing was, 
it was not necessary to suspend the march to 
favor it. The fisherman alone laid aside his 
paddle, and in return was charged to provide 
13* 



150 LAKE GEOKGE Al^D 

for the subsistence of all the others, an office in 
whose duties he fully succeeded.^ 

After being six days on the route, they reached 
Fort Carillon. But scarcely had they begun to 
distinguish the summit of the fortifications, 
when the Indians arranged themselves in order 
of battle, each tribe under its own ensign. Two 
hundred canoes, thus formed in beautiful order, 
furnished a spectacle which caused even the 
French officers to hasten to the banks, judging 
it not unworthy of their curiosity. 

In addition to the Indians, the Koyal army 
was composed as follows : Regulars, seven regi- 
ments, 3,081 ; militia (Canadians), 2,916 ; artil- 
lery, 188 ; total, 6,215. Deducting the sick, the 
non-effective, and the garrisons left behind, the 
effective force amounted to 5,500 men ; adding 
the Indians, 1,806, made the whole force 7,306. 

July 21st. A Canadian officer, M. de St. 
Ours, who was scouting on Lake George in a 
canoe, with ten men, in doubling a point of 
land Avas ambushed b}^ two English boats near 
Harbour island, south of Sabbath-day point. 
He gained the island, where the English eagerly 
pursued him, but he made so vigorous a 
defense that he was allowed to embark and 



* Jesuit Missions, by Bishop Kip. 



(bJr*^ S 




foo 




JitKc 



Kroni Acdifil Surveys br ,^ 
^^^C .BUT IL J^ iST^ 



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\ 




M-ONTCALM's Attack. 



EXPLANATION. 






of l-i-Jin" 






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IiOi of Weel.ParBans 6Co jabot^ N Y 





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H Unv op Ibf Hill and at tbo M«t oTIba «»rd«». 
I eardrn. 

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L Horaaa. 

■ La I'ornt and I'aaadlaaa. 
n Fort Weorgf . 
O Joho»on-« lioeani»"»»t, 8»pl. «. I'M- 

P Dotki. 

q Fori WIlIlM H»i7 Ho«»l. 

it Lobe Honae. 



Jt-jJt 



(mm son 
fh-viiiutt 



Ptacec/pt-^Ua'':^ Here*,/ ^ .- J I ',J*tJ^ 




LAKE CHAJUPLAIN. 151 

quietly regain liis camp, with a loss of one 
killed and three men wounded.'^ 

On the 23d, M. Marin, a celebrated partisan, 
made a bold dash at Fort Edward. He arrived 
in the morning, and first cut off a patrol of ten 
men, who were all killed. Tlie party then 
came up with the guard of fifty men, whom they 
swept aw^ay like a wafer. He then advanced 
boldly up to the fort ; but the English army 
then formed in line of battle, to the extent of 
two thousand men, and, marching out of their 
iiitrenchments, advanced to the borders of the 
woods where Marin was in ambush, who retired 
in good order, losing but a single man. He 
returned with thirty-two scalps. " He was 
unwilling to amuse himself making prisoners, 
and so brought in but one." 

The following statement is made by Dr. Fitch, 

who refers to Dr. Silliman : 

Jolm, son of Cybrant Quackenboss of Albany, was im- 
pressed, with liis team and wagon, to convey a load of pro- 
visions to Lake George. He was captured by a formidable 
party of Indians, who previously had waylaid sixteen others. 
The prisoners were taken to where the village park in 
Sandy Hill is now situated, but which was then a secluded 
spot in the woods. Here they were securely tied and seated 
upon the trunk of a fallen tree, with two or three Indians 
left to guard them ; Quackenboss being at one end, and a 



* Jesuits in America — Father Roubard. Kip. 



152 LAKE GEOliGE AND 

soldier named McGinness being next to him. One of the 
savages now went to the opposite end of the log, and delib- 
erately sank his tomahawk into the head of the man there 
seated. The victim fell to the earth, and the next man 
shared his fate, and so in succession the rest, until it came 
the turn of McGinness. He, with the suddenness of a pan- 
ther, threw himself from the log, in an endeavor to break 
his bonds — but in vain. Instantly, on every side, a dozen 
tomahawks were uplifted ; but the poor fellow, lying upon 
his back and spinning around like a top, thrust his murderer 
off with his feet, till, hacked and mangled, his eflbrts became 
more feeble, when a blow was aimed at his head, and all 
was over. The teamster now only remained. Already the 
fatal hatchet was raised for the last and final stroke, when 
the arm by which it was wielded was suddenly caught aside 
by a squaw, who exclaimed : " You shan't kill him. He's 
no fighter. He's my dog." He was unbound and taken in 
charge by his Indian mistress, and the party started off for 
Canada. He was shortly after purchased from the Indians 
and brought to Montreal. Desiring to communicate with 
his family, he gave a letter in charge of a trusty Indian, 
who brought it as near Fort Edward as he dare venture, 
and here, making a slit in the bark of a tree beside a fre- 
quented path, inserted the end of the letter therein. It was 
speedily discovered and forwarded to its destination. 

From his nepheio, Jacob Quackenboss, Schaghticoke. 

25tli. Lieut. Corbierie, with a force of fifty 
Canadians and three luindred Ottawas, lay in 
ambush, above Sabbath-day point, all day and 
all night. At break of day they discovered a 
body of three hundred English in twenty-two 
barges, who had left Fort William Henry the 
night before. They were under the direction 



LAKE CHAMrLAIN. 



153 



of Col. Jolin Parker and eleven officers. Parker 
had succeeded Col. Schuyler in command of the 
'New Jersey regiment, Schuyler having been 
taken prisoner at the Oswego surrender. The 
engagement was commenced with great reso- 
lution on both sides, but the French and 
Indians, being in their frail canoes, could 
liave no reasonable hope of victory except 
by boarding ; but the English no sooner saw 
them at liand, than terror caused them even 
to drop their arms. " It ceased to be a 
conflict, and became only a flight." In an 
instant they were seen pulling in the greatest 
haste for the bank, while some, to reach there 
sooner, threw themselves into the water for the 
purpose of swimming ; but all in vain.* The 
speed of the rowers could not in any way 
approach the swiftness of a bark canoe. The 
latter sails, or rather flies, over the water with 
the velocity of the arrow. The English were, 
therefore, almost immediately overtaken. In 
the first heat of the conflict all were massacred 
without mercy. Those who had gained the 
woods had no better fate. The woods are the 
natural home of the Indian, and they can run 
tliere with the swiftness of the deer. At length 

■■' — ■ ■ ' ■ ■ I ■ -. ■ — ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ I ■- . I ■ ^ 

* Doc. X, page 591. 



154 LAKE GEORGE AND 

tlie Ottawas thought of making prisoners. The 
number amounted to one hundred and fifty- 
seven, while one hundred and thirtj-one had been 
killed — -twelve only escaped. On the French 
side the losses were nothing, only one Indian 
being slightly wounded. At night the Indians, 
having freely partaken of ardent spirits, cele- 
brated their victory with one of those ferocious 
orgies at which the heart of humanity sickens.* 

* My tent had been placed in the middle of the encamp- 
ment of the Ottawas. The first object which presented 
itself to my eyes on arriving there, was a large fire, while 
the wooden spits fixed in the earth gave signs of a feast. 
Indeed, there was one taking place. But, O, heaven, what 
a feast ! The remains of the body of an Englishman was 
there, the skin stripped off, and more than one-half the flesh 
gone. A moment after I perceived these inhuman beings 
eat with famishing avidity of this human flesh. I saw them 
taking up this detestable broth in large spoons, and appa- 
rently without being able to satisfy themselves with it. They 
informed me that they had prepared themselves for this 
feast by drinking from skulls filled with human blood, while 
their smeared faces and stained lips gave evidence of the 
truth of the story. What rendered it more sad was, that 
they had placed very near them some ten Englishmen to be 
spectators of their infamous repast. I thought by making 
some mild representation to these inhuman monsters I 
might gain some hold upon them. But I was only flatter- 
ing myself. A young man with a resolute air took up the 
conversation, and said to me, in bad French : " You have 
French taste ; I have Indian ; this food is good for me." He 
accompanied his remarks by the offer which he made me of 



LAKE OHAMPLAIN. 155 

The campaign having thus opened auspicionsly 
for the French, no time was lost in embarking 
the provisions and artillery. The distribution of 
the army was as follows : Rigaud, the same who 
had led the expedition of the winter before 
against William Henry, occupied the head of 
the carrying place with the battalion of the 
marine, the militia and the Indians. The regu- 
lars were at the Water Fall, in command of 
Chevalier De Levi, and two battalions were still 
at Carillon with Bourlemaque. Montcalm was 
at the head of the carrying place, superintend- 
ing the transportation. The artillery, the muni- 
tions of all descriptions, provisions to victual 

a piece of tlie broiled Englisliinan. I could make no reply 
to this argument, wliich was so worthy of a savage, and it 
may easily be imagined witli what horror I turned from the 
scene. * * As I approached the English prisoners, one of 
their number, by whose military decorations I recognized 
an officer, arrested my attention. My purpose was imme- 
diately formed to purchase him, and thus to secure for him 
both his liberty and his life. With this view I approached 
an aged Ottawa, believing, that the chill of age having 
moderated his ferocity, I should find him more favorable to 
my designs. I extended to him my hand, saluting him 
politely, in the hope of gaining him to me by kindness of 
manner. But it was not a man with whom I was dealing. 
It was something worse than a ferocious beast, who was not 
to be softened by these caresst^s. " No " said he, in a thun- 
dering and menacing tone, " No, I do not at all wish your 



156 LAKE GEORGE AND 

tlie army for a month, two linndred and fifty 
bateanx and two hundred canoes, were brouo^ht 
over by men's labor, without either oxen or 
horses, and in the last davs entire brio-ades, 
headed by their lieutenant-colonels, relieved each 
other at this work. As the number of boats was 
not sufficient for the passage of the entire army, 
and besides it w^as necessary that the forest, as 
well as the landing, should be reconnoitered, the 
Marquis arranged to move a body of two thou- 
sand troops and a portion of the Indians by 
land, in command of De Levi, and under the 
guidance of Kanactagon, a celebrated Iroquois 
hunter. Their orders Avere to march two days 



favors. Begone." I did not tliink it necessary to wait till 
lie should repeat a compliment of this kind. I obeyed him. 
* * * Next morning on awakening I supposed that 
no vestige of the repast of the previous evening would 
remain about my tent. I flattered myself that, the fames 
of their liquor being dissipated, and the excitement insep- 
arable to action having passed off, their spirits would have 
become more settled, and their hearts more human. But I 
■was acquainted with neither the genius nor the taste of the 
Ottawas. It was through choice, through delicacy, through 
daintiness, that they nourished themselves with human 
flesh. Since the earliest dawn they had done nothing but 
recommence their execrable cookery, and now were waiting 
with anxiety for the desired moment when they should be 
able to glut their more than canine appetite by devouring 
the sad relics of the body of their enemy. Bouhard. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 157 

in advance of tlie remainder of tlie army, in order 
to arrive simiiltaneonsly at the bay of Ganous- 
kie.* 

2Tth. Montcalm held a general council of the 
Indians, at which the nations took their places 
according to their rank, when he presented to 
them, in the King's name, the great union belt 
of six thousand beads, to bind all the tribes to 
each other and to him, so that they might act 
together, and not quit him until the close of the 
expedition. 

29th. De Levi moved off with his division at 
night, and encamped about half a league beyond 
the portage, at a place called the " Burnt Camp," 
on the western shore of Lake George. This 
detachment was composed of twelve companies 
of regulars ; two of the marine, La Corne's, Yas- 
saur's, and Repentigny's and Yillieur's regiments 
of Canadians, and six hundred Indians. On the 
30th, in the morning, the detachment left the 
Burnt Camp w^ithout tents, kettles or equipage, 
Villieur's volunteers and some Indians forming 
the vanguard, the regulars in the center and the 
Canadians and the rest of the Indians marching 
as flankers. The same day the brigades of La 
Eeine and La Sarre occupied the Burnt Camp, 

* Nortli-west bay. 

14 



158 LAKE GEORGE AND 

while the troops under Eourlemaqne encamped 
at the head of the Portage. 

On Sunday the 31st, the Indians who were to 
go by water set out at night, under command 
of St. Luc, accompanied by Marin, Keverville, 
Langlade, I^aplante and Herbin, and moved 
to a point above " Isle a la Barqiie^'"^ w^here 
they landed and encamped. There they saw 
the proofs of the naval victory they had gained 
over Parker, in the abandoned English boats, 
which, after having for a long time been the 
sport of the winds and waves, had at last been 
thrown upon the shore, and also in the great 
number of the bodies of the English extended 
on the banks or scattered through the w^oods, 
some cut to pieces and all mutilated in the most 
frightful manner. The place assigned for the 
camp was the side of a hill covered with bram- 
bles and the haunt of a prodigious number of 
rattlesnakes, which the Indians hunted out and 
caught. 

August 1. At two o'clock p. m., the army 
embarked in two hundred and fifty bateaux and 
set sail in the following order : A pontoon, con- 
sisting of two boats united together by a plat- 
form, and mounted with a twelve-pounder, the 

* Odell Island, near Sabbath-day Point. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 159 

regulars, the militia, the artillery, with a brig- 
ade of Koyal Rousillon as an escort, the provis- 
ions, manned by the Gaspe brigade, the field 
hospital, and lastly the rear guard. The guard 
left at Carillon comprised two hundred men, 
under the orders of Captain Dalquier, of the 
grenadiers, fifty men in possession of a redoubt 
at the falls, erected in the middle of the rapid, 
and a hundred and fifty men at the head of the 
carrying place where there was a supply of pro- 
visions. Halted at five o'clock, at the point 
where the Indians had encamped. These last 
who lay waiting now took the lead, and the four 
hundred boats, covering the waters from shore to 
shore, swept majestically up the lake, until, per- 
ceiving upon the mountain the three fires placed 
in the form of a triangle, which De Levi had 
lit as a signal, at three o'clock a. m. they 
landed at Ganouskie Bav,^ to the left of the 
land detachment, and proceeded to cook their 
breakfast. The Chevalier had arrived at four 
o'clock of the afternoon previous, after a march 
which the excessive heat, the continual moun- 
tains, the fallen trees, and the necessity of carry- 
ing every thing on the shoulders, had rendered 
fatio-uina: even to the Indians. At ten o'clock 



* Bolton Landing. 



160 LAKE GEORGE AND 

A. M. De Levi resumed his march and proceeded 
about three leagues to Great Sandy Bay,^ and 
went immediately to reconnoiter the environs 
of the fort, its position and the proper place to 
land the artillery. Toward noon the army re- 
embarked and proceeded leisurely, to enable 
tlie pontoons with the artillery to keep up. At 
evening they reached the same bay where the 
land troops had arrived, but hidden by a point 
of land from the view of the English fort. A 
little incident which occurred here was the pre- 
lude of the siege ; about eight o'clock two boats 
sent out from the fort appeared on the lake, and 
sailed along with an easy assurance and tran- 
quillity which little betokened the scent of dan- 
ger. The news was at once imparted to the 
Indians, and the preparations to receive them 
were made with promptness and in admirable 
silence. One of the barges had a tent stretched 
over it which formed a kind of dark object in 
the air, easily discovered by the light of the 
stars. Curious to investigate what it could be, 
the English steered directly toward this spot. 
Slight chance of escape had they, as to choose that 
course was to rush on death. At tliis juncture 



* Beyond the old Caldwell Manor House, now known as 
Shaw's Bay. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 161 

a sheep, in a provision boat, happened to bleat, 
and disclosed the ambush. Immediately the 
Eni2:lish boats turned about and made toward 
the opposite shore, using their oars to the utmost 
to save themselves by means of the darkness 
and the woods. This maneuver was immedi- 
ately seen. Twelve hundred savages were at 
once in motion and flew to the pursuit, with 
cries equally frightful by their continuance as 
by their numbers ; nevertheless, both sides 
seemed to be backward, as not a single shot 
was discharged. The pursuers, not having had 
time to form, feared to draw the fire upon them- 
selves, besides they wished to take prisoners. 
The fugitives employed their arms more use- 
fully in accelerating their fliglit. They had 
almost reached the opposite shore when the 
Indians, who perceived that their prey was 
escaping, fired, and the English, pressed almost 
too close by the foremost canoes, were obliged 
to return it. Then followed a fearful silence, 
succeeding to all this uproar. The afi'air ter- 
minated in a chief of the Xepistingue tribe 
being killed, and one other wounded. Three 
Englishmen were taken prisoners, with their 
boats, the rest were scattered through the 

woods. 

14* 



162 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

Gen. Webb"^ was now in command of the 
English forces in Northern New York, with his 
head-quarters at Fort Edward. He visited 
Lake George the last of July, under the escort 
of Major Israel Putnam, with two hundred 
men. July 31st. Putnam, with eighteen men, 
in three boats, went down the lake on a recon- 
noisance, but had only proceeded twelve miles 
when he discovered an advanced party of the 
enemy encamped upon an island, when he with- 
drew. The next morning Webb returned to 



* Ijieut.-General (Heaven save the mark ! ) Daniel Webb 
was ensign of the Cold Stream Guards. He succeeded Col. 
Dunbar in the command of the Forty-eighth Foot, after Dunbar 
was superseded for his cowardice at Braddock's defeat, and 
arrived at New York from England, 7th June, 1756, to 
relieve Gen. Shirley. In succeeding to Dunbar's regiment, 
he also inherited that officer's disposition to take to flight at 
the appearance of danger, for, being dispatched, in 1756, 
with a considerable force to the relief of Oswego, as soon as 
he got to the carrying place, now Rome, he became so 
alarmed at hearing of the fall of the place he was sent to 
relieve, that he filled Wood creek with trees to prevent the 
approach of an invisible enemy. Strange that he should 
be again put in any position of responsibility ; yet next year 
he was in command of the northern frontier, and sliamefully 
abandoned Col. Monroe at Fort William Henry, though at 
the head of 4,000 men. In consequence he was ordered 
home, but in some inexplicable way he was protected from 
censure. Doc. x, page 574. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 163 

Fort Edward with liis escort, and dispatch ed 
Col. Monroe with his regiment to re-enforce and 
command the garrison, of whom four hundred 
and fifty were in the fort, and the remainder, 
seventeen hundred, were posted in the intrenched 
camp, which, for all practical purposes, was 
much the better fort of the two. Webb also 
immediately sent expresses to the several Gov- 
ernors, with a requisition to call out the militia. 
The order was promptly obeyed. All the 'New 
York militia north of the Highlands were 
immediately put in motion. In Connecticut 
every fourth man was drafted. In New Jersey 
four thousand were assembled ; and in every 
direction troops were organizing and marching 
toward Fort Edward, but, alas, too late to be 
of any avail.* 

Sir William Johnson w^as holding an import- 
ant council with the Cherokees at his house 
when the news arrived of the approach of 
Montcalm. He abruptly broke up the confer- 
ence, and hastily collecting what militia and 
Indians he could, started, and arrived two days 
after at Fort Edward. On the 8th he obtained 
from Webb permission to march to the aid of 
the beleaguered garrison. Putnam and his 
rangers, and most of the provincial regiments, 

* Fitch. 



164 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

promptly volunteered ; but tliej had scarcely 
begun their march when the order was counter- 
manded, and they were ordered back to their 
posts. ^ 

The French troops having all landed at Great 
Sandy Bay, except the St. Ours brigade attached 
to the artiller}^, and those detailed to guard the 
bateaux and provisions, all under the command 
of Lieut.-Col. Privat, they arranged themselves 
in order of battle. 

At two o'clock A. M., August 3d, the English 
who had had their camp to the left of the fort, 
broke up and retired into the intrenchments on 
the right, on the site of Fort George. The same 
day, at dawn, the French army moved in tliree 
columns. De Levi led the advance with his de- 
tachment and the Indians, Montcalm with the 
brigades followed in column by regiments. 
Kigund was on the right with the Canadians, 
and Bourlemaque on the left. Sheltered by the 
w^oods De Levi was enabled to pass the fort un- 
molested, and at ten o'clock a. m. took up a 
position on the road leading to Fort Edward. 
The Koyal Kousillon Brigade was posted on the 
crestf of a ravine, which is opposite the fort, 

* Stone's Life of Jolmson. 

f To the left of the plank-road, on the north side of the 
ravine, opposite and north of the court-house. 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 165 

where it remained an hour in order of battle 



J 



and received orders to join the army on a pla- 
teau^ beyond some heights to the left of the fort, 
where all the troops remained until five o'clock 
in the evening, during which time the fort was 
I'econnoitered as well as the intrenched camp, 
which appeared too strong to be captured by an 
assault. The Indians were intrusted with the 
duty of protecting the right, which extended as 
far as the French mountain, and also of sending 
out scouts on to the Fort Edward road. Thev 

ft/ 

kept up a sharp fire on the fort, repelled several 
sorties, killed a hundred cattle, and one hun- 
dred and fifty sheep, which belonged to the 
commissariat of tlie fort, and also captured forty 
oxen, and twenty horses, which were taken into 
the French camp. The camp was laid out by 
Bourlemaque, on the ground occupied in the 
morning by the Koyal Rousillon brigade, the 
left resting on the cove,f where the artillery 
was to land, and the right extending over 
toward the mountain. A guard of fifty men 
were then ordered to be posted in the cove, with 
instructions to light fires at night-fall, to serve 
as beacons for the artillery bateaux. 



* Near where the Luzerne road turns off. 
f Behind the court-house. 



166 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Montcalm bivouacked with the rest of the 
army on the Fort Edward road. In the even- 
ing the scouts reported that a body of troops 
had left Fort Edward* and were coming by the 
mountains. Meanwhile the English were vigor- 
ously at work fortifying the intrenched camp. 

August 4. In the morning the brigade of 
La Heine came to encamp on the right of the 
Royal Housillon, while two brigades of militia 
took their posts immediately in their rear. 

Montcalm having arrived at the camp early 
in the morning, went to reconnoiter the fort with 
Eourlemaque and the officers of the artillery, 
to decide where the first batterv should be set 
up. At noon, De Levi was directed to call in 
his detachment, and to occupy the heights on 
the right, but at some distance from the camp, 
with the militia and Indians, and to have scouts 
continually on the Fort Edward road. Tools 
were distributed and orders issued for the con- 
struction of fascines and gabions. It was also 
judged best to bring the artillery, as it might 
be w^anted, and unload it at night, in the little 
cove above named. The command of the siege 
was given to Eourlemaque. His detail for this 
purpose consisted of seven regiments, and the St. 

* Sir Wm. Johnson's command, afterward recalled. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 167 

Ours and Gaspe brigades. De Levi, with the 
five remaining Canadian regiments, and the In- 
dians, had the duty of protecting the right of 
the camp and the Fort Edward road. These 
arrangements bemg perfected, Montcahn dis- 
patched a summons to CoL Monroe, in the fol- 
lowing terms : 

" Sir : I have arrived with sufficient force 
to take the place which you hold, and to cut off 
all succor which can reach you from any quar- 
ter. I number in my train a crowd of Indian 
tribes, whom the least effusion of blood will 
enrage to an extent that will forever prevent 
them from entertaining any sentiments of mod- 
eration or clemency. The love of humanity has, 
therefore, induced me to summon you to sur- 
render, at a time when it will not be impossible 
for me to induce them to agree to a capitulation, 
honorable to you and useful to all. 

" I have the honor to be, etc., 

^' Montcalm." 

The bearer of this was M. Fontebrane, aid- 
de-camp of De Levi. He was received at the 
fort with politeness. The following answer was 
returned : 

" Monsieur : I am obliged to you for the 
courteous offer you have made. I cannot 
accept it. I have little fear of your Indian 



168 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

forces, and I have under my orders soldiers who 
are determined, like myself, to die or conquer. 
" I am, etc., 

" Col. George Monkoe, 

" Co7)i., etcP 

This answer was followed by a general dis- 
charge of the artillery from the fort. 

While these preliminaries were taking place, 
the Nepistingue tribe proceeded with the funeral 
rites of their chief, who had been killed at the 
boat attack on tlie first evening of their arrival. 
These rites were celebrated with savage pomp 
and splendor. The dead body was arrayed in 
all its ornaments, collars of porcelain, silver 
bracelets, pendants for the ears and for the nose, 
and magnificent apparel were lavislied upon 
him. Paint and vermilion gave the counte- 
nance an air of life. They had not been forget- 
ful of any of the decorations of the warrior. A 
neck-piece, bound with a red ribbon, hung neg- 
ligently upon his breast, his gun rested upon 
his arm, the tomahawk at his belt, the pipe in 
his mouth, his lance in his hand, and the kettle 
filled with provisions at his side. Clothed in 
this warlike array, they seated him on an emi- 
nence covered with grass, which served liim for 
his bed of state. The Indians, ranged in a 
circle around the dead body, regarded it for 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN. 169 

some moments in a solemn silence, indicative of 
grief. This was broken by the orator, who 
■i)ronounced the funeral oration for the dead. 
Then succeeded the chants and dances to the 
sound of a tabor hung around with little bells. 
In all this there was an indescribable air of 
sadness, which agreed well with the melancholy 
ceremonial. At length the funeral rites were 
ended by the interment of tlie dead, with whom 
they took care to bury a supply of provisions, 
for fear, without doubt, that for want of nour- 
ishment he might die a second time.* 

At eight o'clock p. m., Bourlemaque pro- 
ceeded with 450 workmen, supported by a 
guard of 300 regulars, to open the first paral- 
lel within 700 yards of the fort. They also 
commenced two batteries, and built a piece of 
road from the cove to the " tail of the trench," 
on which to move up the guns. The artillery 
consisted of thirty-two pieces. Twelve guns 
were brought around that night, and as they 
passed the point of land which brought tliem in 
sight of the fort, they took care to salute the 
same by a general discharge. The work rapidly 
advanced through the obstacles presented by 
the soil, the trunks of trees and abatis, which 



* Jesuit Missions. 

15 



170 LAKE GEORGE AND 

required the employment of the ax and saw, 
and by day-break the men were entirely hidden, 
except at the right battery where the work had 
been slower. The left battery was 480 feet 
from the tail of the trench, and the second bat- 
tery 600 feet from the first. 

Dnring the day the English fired a great deal 
of shell and shot. A soldier of the Royal Ron- 
sillon, who was on duty, was killed ; and at 
night-fall they lighted large fires at the 
intrenched camp, where they continued indus- 
triously at work. 

Aug. 5. At day-break the working party was 
dismissed, and a force of 200 men put on, who 
perfected the trench. The shell and shot from 
the fort reaching into the French camp, the 
brigades were moved 400 paces to the rear.* 

On this day Gen. Webb had sent out from 
Fort Edward three couriers, with information 
for Col. Monroe. The first was killed, the sec- 
ond captured, the third saved himself by his 
swiftness in running. The Indians brought in 
the prisoner, and a vest, in the pocket of which 
was a hollow musket ball, containing a letter to 
Col. Monroe. It announced, in substance, that 
he would advance to give battle to the French 

* To the grounds of tlie Caldwell Manor House. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 171 

army as soon as the provincial militia arrived ; 
that, considering the position of Fort Edward, 
he could not march to the relief of Col. Mon- 
roe, to extricate him, nor forward to him any 
re-enforcements until the expected arrival of the 
militia, to whom he had sent orders to join him 
forthwith ; but should they arrive too late to 
enable him to advance and engage the French 
army, the commandant should look to obtaining 
the best conditions possible.^ 

Aug. 6. The first or left battery, consisting 
of eight pieces, of wdiich three w^ere eighteen- 
poLinders and one nine-inch mortar, was 
unmasked, and discharged several rounds con- 
secutively, afterward it fired every two minutes. 
It was replied to with spirit from the fort. 



* In De Lancey's address to the Colonial Assembly, dated 
Sept. 2, 1757, occurs the following remark : " The troops 
above the Highlands had already marched in consequence 
of my orders, and many had proceeded to Fort Edward ; 
but after a short stay Gen. Webb informed me that all the 
militia, except those of the county of Albany, had deserted 
in a mutinous manner. I did all I could to stop them, but 
with little success. This step, whether arising from cow- 
ardice or disgust, or whatever other motive, deserves a very 
severe animadversion, more especially as it was taken at a 
time when the enem^, were still at Fort William Henry, 
only fourteen miles distant from Fort Edward, the most 
advanced post we had in that quarter of the country." 



172 LAKE GEORGE AND 

The guard was relieved at four o'clock p. m., 
by three companies of grenadiers, and at seven 
o'clock three hundred night workmen came on, 
who perfected the parallel, finished the second 
or royal battery, which consisted of two eigh- 
teen, five twelve, one eight, two seven inch 
howitzers, and a six-inch mortar, and proceeded 
to run a trench from the parallel, three hundred 
yards in length, directly toward the garden of 
the fort. This battery threw shot in an acute 
angle with the front of attack, and swept the 
intrenched camp with a ricochet fire. It was 
not possible for the English to stir out without 
danger. An Englishwoman determined to go 
and gather some vegetables in the garden con- 
tiguous to the trench. She was shot down on 
the spot by an Indian concealed in a square of 
cabbages. Having no means of recovering the 
body, the conqueror, always concealed, remained 
sentinel throughout the day, and at night took 
away with him the scalp. ^ 

The Indians were delighted with the noise of 
the great guns and the prodigious echoes which 
were made by the mountains. They were 
always about the artillerymen, whose dexterity 
they much admired. But their admiration was 

* Roubard. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 173 

neither idle nor without its use. Some even de- 
termined to become o^unners. One, after havirioj 
sighted the cannon, found that the shot struck 
the very angle of the fort which had been as- 
si2:ned to him as a mark. But he declined to 
repeat the experiment, because, having reached, 
in his attempt, that degree of perfection to 
which he aspired, he did not wish to hazard his 
reputation in a second trial. But their chief 
cause of astonishment was the covert"^ ways. 
They examined, with the most eager curiosity, 
the manner in which the French grenadiers 
labored to perfect those works. Instructed by 
seeing, they shortly began to exercise their own 
hands in the practice. They might be seen, 
with pick-axes, marking out a branch of the 
trench, toward the portion of the fort which was 
assigned to them to be attacked. They pushed 
them so far forward that they were shortly 
within musket shot. 

De Yillieurs profited by these advances to 
attack the outposts. The action was warm, but 
the En owlish were driven back. 



* " Covert," hidden. The earth is thrown up toward the 
enemy, to hide the view, and for protection from the can- 
non. 



ir-* 



174: LAKE GEOKGE AND 

On the night of the Yth, the workmen con- 
tinued the trench to within six hundred feet of 
the fort. There a third battery was commenced. 
The guard was composed of three companies of 
grenadiers and seven pickets. At midnight, 
two deserters fell among the Indian pickets, 
who had been posted on their bellies, in the 
garden in front of their workmen. The night's 
work brought the trench to a swamp, about a 
hundred yards wide, bordered on the south by 
an acclivity, which, except about sixty feet, 
sheltered it from the batteries of the place. In 
broad daylight the sappers applied themselves 
to this, with so much activity, that before night 
a road of round sticks and hurdles was made, 
capable of bearing artiller3\ At nine o'clock 
A. M., after a double salute from the batteries, 
Montcalm sent to Monroe, through his aid De 
Bougainville, the letter of Gen. "Webb, which 
had been intercepted two days before, as its 
perusal, when the works were so far advanced, 
mio^ht induce him to surrender. At three 
o'clock the English made a sortie, with 500 
men, to open the Fort Edward road. De Yil- 
lieurs marched against them, with the Canadians 
and Indians, who repulsed and drove them back 
into the intrenched camp, with a loss, on the Eng- 
lish side, of a number killed, and four prisoners. 



LAKE ClIAMPLAIK. 175 

8th. The working party were relieved at 
day-break, by three hundred other men, who 
proceeded to finish the new battery, and con- 
struct a road through tlie slope that leads into 
the gardens. At three o'clock the English 
turned out, under arms, to repel a supposed 
attack. The scouts reported to Montcalm that 
relief was approaching from the southern road. 
He immediately dispatched three companies of 
grenadiers to De Levi, and followed with two 
brigades. Bourlemaque ordered two guns to 
bear on the garden and plateau, and to fire, at 
an elevation, over the fort, into the intrenched 
camp, where the troops were observed in line 
of battle. The relief proved to be a false report, 
and at five p. m. the troops returned to camp. 
At seven o'clock the guard of the trench were 
relieved, and at eight arrived a party of 550 
working men, 100 for the battery, and the re- 
mainder for the bridge, and to take post on the 
exterior crest of the ravine in the garden. Here 
they opened a parallel, which was designed for 
the fourth battery, and, also, by its prolongation, 
to surround the fort and cut it off from the in- 
trenched camp. The fire from the fort, that night, 
was brisk, and resulted in two being wounded. 
At day-break the parallel was sufficiently com- 
plete to afibrd a secure lodgment for the men. 



176 



LAKE GEOKGE AI^D 



1 

Seeing tlie works so far advanced, on the 
morning of the 9th, Col. Monroe hoisted the 
white flag, and 8 a. m. sent Lieut.-Colonel John 
Young* to negotiate the articles of capitulation. 
Montcalm, having agreed with him upon the 
principal terms, refused to proceed further until 
he could have a general council of the Indian 
chiefs, which he forthwith called, and to whom 
he explained the conditions whereon the English 
were ofifering to surrender, and the terms he 
was resolved to grant them, and demanded of 
them their consent, and also whether they 
could answer for their young men not violating 
the terms. The chiefs unanimously assured 
him that they approved of all he would do, and 
would prevent their young men from commit- 
ting any disorder. 

The following were the articles of capitula- 
tion : 

1. The garrison of Fort William Henry shall 
march out with their arms and their baggage ; 
they shall proceed to Fort Edward, escorted 
by a detachment of French and some officers 

* Col. Young was major in the Royal Americans. On the 
reduction of Fort William Henry he was shamefully stripped 
and plundered by the Indians ; and it is a curious fact that 
he afterward recognized and recovered some of his property, 
in 1759, on the reduction of Quebec 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 177 

and interpreters attached to the Indians, and 
march at an early hour on the morning of the 
lOtli. They shall not serve again in eighteen 
months. 

2. The gate of the fort to he delivered up to 
the troops at the signing of tlie capitulation, 
and the intrenched camp the next day on the 
departure of the British troops. 

3. All the artillery, stores and provisions to 
be given up, and an inventory taken. The sick 
and wounded who cannot be moved, to be under 
the protection of the Marquis de Montcalm. 
Provisions to be issued for two days only. 

As a further token of esteem, on account of 
their honorable defense, Monroe was granted one 
field-piece, a six-pounder. 

Montcalm also directed Bourgainville, his 
aid, who conducted tlie capitulation, to have all 
the wine, brandy, rum and other intoxicating 
liquors in the public stores of the fort, spilled, 
wlii(jh was accordingly done before the evacua- 
tion. 

At 12 o'clock M. the English troops, arrayed 
in beautiful order, marched out of the fort with 
their knapsacks and eiFects, to go over to the 
intrenched camp, while the French regiments 
of the trenches, under Bourlemaque, advanced 
in battle array to take possession. At the same 



178 LAKE GEORGE AND 

hour a cloud seemed passing over their heads, 
and looking upward they discovered that they 
stood beneath the wide folds of the standard of 
France. 

As the troops left the parade, they passed by 
the French army, who stood to then' arms, 
attentive but silent observers of the proceed- 
ings of the vanquished, failing in none of the 
stipulated honors, and oftering no taunt or 
insult, in their success, to their less fortunate 
foes."^ 

The march and ceremony were not marked 
by any contravention of the laws of nations. 

Montcalm sent, according to the agreement, 
a detachment of three hundred troops,f under 
command of a lieutenant-colonel, to the in- 
trenched camp for their protection. lie also 
ordered the officers and interpreters attached to 
the Indians to remain until the departure of 
the English. 

Bourlemaque took possession of the fort with 
his division, and stationed guards upon the 
pow^der magazines and the provision stores ; the 
remainder was given up to pillage. The Indi- 
ans made no delay. During the military cere- 
mony Avhich accompanied the taking possession, 

* Cooper, f Doc. x, p. 615. 



LAKE CHAMPLAII^'. 179 

tliej had penetrated into the fort, in crowds, 
through the embrasures, for the purpose of 
pillage. But they did not confine them- 
selves to this. There were still remaining 
in the casemates some sick persons, whose 
condition did not allow them to follow their 
countrymen in their honorable retreat. These 
were, therefore, their first victims on whom 
they threw themseh'es without pity, and sacri- 
ficed to their blood-thirstiness.* 

The Indians then proceeded to the intrenched 
camp, and, notwithstanding all the precautions 
of those who guarded the same, got in, and 
wished to pillage the chests of the officers. The 
latter opposed this proceeding, and a serious 
disorder was threatened. Montcalm proceeded 
to the intrenchment, and found some of the 
Indians drunk with rum obtained from the 
oflicers.' He " had recourse to prayers, menaces 
caresses, councils with the chiefs, and interfer 



* Roubard further says : " I was a witness of this 
spectacle. I saw one of these barbarians come forth from 
the casemates, which nothing but the most insatiate avidity 
for blood could have induced him to enter, for the infected 
atmosphere which exhaled from it was unsupportable. He 
carried in his hand a human head, from whence streams of 
blood were flowing, and which he paraded forth as if it had 
been the most valuable prize he had been able to seize." 



^ 



180 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

ence of the officers and interpreters, wlio 
possessed some antliority over these barbarians, 
to stop and restrain them."* 

The disorderly conduct being abated, Mont- 
cahn, at nine o'clock at night, returned to his 
quarters. This was, however, only a slight 
introduction of the tragedy of the morrow. 
^Notwithstanding the remonstrances of Mont- 
calm, the English furnished the Indians with 
rum (on which, during the night, several of 
them got drunk), on the supposition that by 
such a course they would render these savages 
more favorable to them. But they might as 
well have undertaken to tame the famished 
wild beast. Early in the morning they began 
to assemble about the intrenchments, demand- 
ing of the English, goods, provisions, in a word, 
whatever their greedy eyes perceived. These 
demands were made in a tone which announced 
that a thrust of the spear would be the price 
of a refusal. The English entertained for these 
Indians an inconceivable terror. They undressed 
and stripped themselves almost to nothing, to 
purchase their lives at the hands of these in- 
human monsters. But this compliance, which 
should have softened the savage heart, only ren- 



* Doc. X, 633. 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN'. 181 

dered them more exacting. The same terror 
determined the Enghsh to set out before the 
escort was ready. 

The Abnekas of Panouske, in Acadia, claimed 
to have experienced from the English some 
ill-treatment, wherebv, under the pretense of 
making a treaty, certain of their chiefs had been 
inveigled into a fort and slain. They seized 
this occasion to retaliate. The long column of 
English had scarcely filed out from their in- 
trenchments to the number of two thousand 
two hundred, and were approaching the vista 
cut through the trees where the road to Fort 
Edward entered the forest, when the Indians 
uttered their dread war-whoop, and " woe be to 
those wdio closed the march, or to the stragglers 
whom illness or any other reason separated 
ever so little from the main body. They were 
as good as dead, and their lifeless bodies soon 
strewed the ground and covered the circuit of 
the intrenchments." "^ 

The English troops, in place of meeting them 
with resolution, and defending themselves with 
their arms, were seized with a sudden panic, and 
fled helter-skelter toward the woods or toward 
the French tents, then to the fort, then to any 



* Roubard. 

16 



182 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

place which promised them an asylum, throw- 
ing away their guns, equipments and baggage. 
The great number of women which accompanied 
the garrison increased its terror.* This butchery, 
which, at first, was only the work of some few 
savages, became the signal, which transformed 
them into so many ferocious beasts. They dis- 
charged, right and left, heavy blows with their 
hatchets, on all those who came within their 
reach. The massacre was, however, not of any 
duration, nor by any means so considerable as 
so much fury would have seemed to give reason 
to. It amounted to about forty or fifty men. 

The French, meanwhile, were not idle. The 
detachment of three hundred, appointed to 
protect their retreat, arrived, and hastily ar- 
ranged themselves in order of battle. The 
Chevalier De Levi ran in every direction, to 
where the tumult was the thickest, to endeavor 
to arrest it, and periled his life, at the hands of 
the savage arms raised to strike at him. The 
French and Canadian ofiicers imitated his ex- 
ample, with a zeal worthy of the humanity of 
a civilized nation. But of what avail were 
three hundred men, and a few ofiicers, against 
fifteen hundred infuriated savages, who could 

*Doc. X, C33. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 183 

not, or would not, distinguish tlieni from tlie 
English? One of the sergeants, who had op- 
posed himself to their violence, was struck to 
the earth bj a spear. A French officer, as a 
reward of the same zeal, received a severe 
wound, which brought him to the borders of 
the grave. Besides, in the moment of alarm, 
one knew scarcely where to turn, and the very 
measures which seemed to be most dictated by 
prudence, ended in disastrous results. Mont- 
calm, whose camp was at a distance from the 
spot, did not hear at first of what was going 
forward. At the news of the occurrence he 
speedily repaired to the spot, and, after trying 
prayers, menaces, and promises, he at last re- 
sorted to force. He wrested the nephew of 
Col. Young, with violence, from the hands of 
the Indians, but his deliverance cost the lives 
of a number of prisoners, whom the Indians 
massacred for fear of a similar rescue.^ The 



* A French officer informed Father Roubard that a Huron 
had at that time an infant six months old, whose death -was 
certain if he did not hasten to its relief. The good father 
hastened to the cabin of the savage, and after considerable 
entreaty the latter was induced to give up the child, on 
condition that he should receive back a scalp of an enemy. 
''Departing with haste," says Roubard, "to the camp of the 
Abnakis, 1 demanded of the first person I met whether he 



184 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Indians then proceeded to take prisoners, and 
the disorder was on the increase, when some 
one happily thought of ordering the English 
to increase their speed, which was done. 
The Indians, satisfied with their prizes, began 
to retire, the remaining few were easily dis- 
persed, and the English, without further inter- 
ruption, continued their march to Fort Edward. 
They arrived there at first to the number of 
three or four hundred, and for two or three 
days parties straggled la, being guided by the 
sound of the' cannon, which wei'e fired at inter- 
vals for that purpose. Many of the English 
had found safety in the fort or in the tents of 



had any scalps, and if lie wished to do a favor to gratify 
me. He untied his pouch, and gave me my choice. I car- 
ried it oif in triumph, followed by a crowd of French and 
Canadians, and in a moment had rejoined my Huron. See, 
said I, your payment. You are right, he replied ; it is, 
indeed, an English scalp, for it is red. I immediately took 
the unfortunate little being in my hands, and, as it was 
almost naked, I wrapped it in my robe, but my hands being 
unaccustomed to this business, the poor infant uttered its 
cries, which taught me my own awkwardness as well as 
its sufferings. I arrived at the fort, and at the sound of its 
feeble cries all the women ran toward me, each one flatter- 
ing herself with the hope of recovering the object of her 
maternal tenderness. They eagerly examined it, but neither 
the eyes nor the heart of any one recognized their child. 



LAKE CIIAMPLArN". 186 

the French. The same day Montcahn made 
the Indians surrender about four hundred pris- 
oners. The majority of the nations gave them 
up to liim with the greatest respect and the most 
ample apologies on the part of the chiefs, stating 
they had no sense, etc. The wounded were 
sent to Carillon. He further sent a message to 
Yaudreuil, at Montreal, that the nations who 
were unwillina* to surrender the Eno-lish to 
him, had gone away, contrary to usage, without 
taking leave, and carrying their prisoners with 
them. 

Montcalm detained the men and officers for 
three days. On the 14th he dispatched Lieut. 
Wm. Hamilton, under the escort of thirty 

They therefore retired again to one side to give free course 
to their lamentations and complaints. Proceeding to the 
camp, a shrill and animated cry suddenly struck my ears. 
Was it of grief, or was it of joy? It was all this, and much 
inore, for it was that of the mother, who, from a distance, 
had recognized her child, so keen are the eyes of maternal 
love. She ran with a precipitation which showed that this 
was indeed her child. She snatched it with an eagerness 
which seemed as if she feared that some one might a second 
time deprive her of it. It is easy to imagine to what trans- 
ports of joy she abandoned herself, particularly when she 
was assured of the life and freedom of her husband, to 
whom she thought that she had bid a final adieu. Nothing 
was wanting to complete their happiness but their reunion, 
and this I thought should be the perfection of my work." 
16* 



186 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

grenadiers, commanded by Lieut. Sanvonier, of 
the La Sarre regiment, accompanied by La 
Corne, Lieut. Marin and two interpreters, with 
a couple of letters to Gen. Webb and Lord 
Loudon. 

The following day, 15th, the English and all 
the officers recovered from the Indians set out, 
escorted by 250 men under the command of 
Captain Poulharies of the Rousillon grenadiers, 
who delivered them up to a similar detachment 
sent for that purpose from Fort Edward at Half- 
way brook ; these troops took with them the 
cannon which had been allowed to Monroe by 
the articles of capitulation. 

Meanwhile De Levi had removed his camp 
from the hill-side around to the front of the 
intrenched camp on the Fort Edward road. 
He had the brigade of La Reine, four brigades 
of Canadians and the independent companies. 
With the remainder of the army Montcalm pro- 
ceeded to demolish the fort and to remove the 
stores. These included seventeen cannon, of 
which eight were brass, seventeen swivels, 
35,835 lbs. powder, 2,522 shot, 1,400 lbs. balls, 
6 chests of fire-works, grape-shot of various 
caliber, and 3,000 barrels of flour and pork. 

A thousand men were employed in transport- 
ing these immense stores of provisions and war 



LAKE CHA^IPLAIN. 187 

materials to tlie boats, and twelve liuiidred were 
engaged in destroying tlie fort. The Indians 
had all disappeared. The fort was entirely 
demolished and even the ruins were consumed 
hy fire. It was only during the burning that 
the greatness of the English loss became evident. 
Tlie casemates and the subterranean passages 
were found to be filled with dead bodies, which, 
for several days, furnished new aliment for the 
flames. The French loss was twenty-one killed 
and about twenty-five wounded. The English 
lost between three and four hundred. 

Montcalm, not having boats enough for the 
entire army, on the 16th ordered the Rousillon 
and Bevu regiments to encamp on Fourteen 
Mile island, and left at noon with the rest of 
the troops. As they left the shore Putnam, who, 
with his rangers, had been appointed to watch 
the enemy's movements, approached the scene 
of slaughter. 'Not a living thing stood on the 
plain. The flash of French bayonets was seen 
for a moment in the aistance, and then silence 
and solitude fell upon the forest.* 



* About five years ago, in excavating the foundation of 
Dr. Cromwell's dwelling, on the plank-road, and upon what 
was the garden of the fort, thirty-six skulls and other debris 
were exhumed. They were principally women and children. 




CHAPTER IX. 

AbERCROMBIE's expedition — DE HABECOURT — ROGERS — OUTELAS — 
KEAV YORK REGIMENT — DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS — LORD HOWE — 
COMPOSITION OP THE ARMY — APPEARANCE ON LAKE GEORGE — 
ARRANGEMENTS OP MONTCALM — THE LANDING — LORD HOWE 
KILLED — THE BATTLE — THE RETREAT. 

'^ July, 1757, William Pitt became 
Prime Minister of England. He 
"knew himself to be called, neither 
by the King, nor yet by the aristoc- 
racy, but by the voice of the people."* 

In December, 1757, he obtained the King's 
order that every provincial officer, of a grade 
below that of a colonel, should have equal rank 
■with the British, according to the date of their 
commission. This proceeding removed a ground 
of complaint, which had always caused bad 
blood between the officers of the respective 
corps. He abandoned the idea of raising money, 
by the absurd mode of taxation, in the Colonies, 
and which had been a favorite hobby with his 
predecessors ; and, in a circular letter, dated 
December 30th, boldly invited them to raise as 

* Bancroft. 



LAKE CHAI^IPLAIN. 189 

many men as possible, at tlie same time provid- 
ing for tlieir arms, equipments, ammunition, 
provisions, and artillery, and promised tliat tlie 
King should strongly recommend to Parliament 
to grant to them a proper compensation.^ The 
colonies reposed undoubted confidence in the 
upright designs of Pitt. His respect for their 
rights, joined to the prospect of making a llnal 
conquest of Canada, roused in them the most 
fervid zeal. 

Great suffering existed at this time in 
Canada. They were nearly cut off fi-om sup- 
plies from France. A famine existetl, and 
the troops were farmed out, at the rate of a 
soldier to each familv. Fifteen hundred horses 
were purchased, distributed, and killed for sub- 
sistence. In the month of January, Major 
Robert Rogers came roving into the neighbor- 
hood of Carillon, with a detachment of seventy 
men. The artillery opened upon him and drove 
him away. In his retreat, he burned a pile of 
timber and charcoal, took a wood-cutter pris- 
oner, and killed eighteen oxen or cow^s, which 
were found in the woods, and served to subsist 
the o;arrison. Poolers affixed a note to the horn 
of one of the oxen, in the following words : 

* Pitt's letter to the governors. Doc. vii, 340. 



190 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

"Sir: I am obliged to you for tlie repose you have 
allowed me to take. I tliank you for tlie fresh meat you 
have sent me, I shall take care of my prisoners. Pre- 
sent my compliments to the Marquis de Montcalm. 

" (Signed) Robert Rogers." (Doc. x, 837.) 

Feb. 28. Sieur Montignon returned from a 
reconnoisance to Fort Lydius, with twenty -three 
English scalps, and five prisoners.^ 

March 13. Capt. De Hebecourt, of the regi- 
ment of La Heine, in command of Carillon, 
dispatched a party of two hundred men, under 

* General Lyman succeeded Webb in the command of 
Foi-t Edward. Capt. Little was posted upon a tongue of land, 
with a file of soldiers, to protect a hundred and fifty workmen 
who were obtaining timber for the use of the fort. Early 
one morning the sentinel discovered what he supposed was a 
flock of birds, flying toward him from the morass, but he soon 
discovered the true genus of these feathered messengers, 
as an arrow struck in a tree at his side. The alarm was 
instantly given, and the workmen fled toward the fort, the 
Indians pursuing and firing upon them ; Capt. Little's party 
now opened their fire upon the Indians, who, turning, at- 
tacked him in such overwhelming numbers that his situa- 
tion became critical in the extreme. Major Putnam and his 
rangers were stationed, at this time, on an island in the river, 
when learning the jeopardy of Capt. Little and his party, 
he promptly leaped into the water, waded ashore and 
hastened to the relief of his comrade. As they passed the 
fort Gen. Lyman hailed them and ordered them to stop, but 
" they could not see it." They swept through the swamp, 
with a shout, and put the assailants to flight. 

Fitch and Headley. 







■C: ^< 



•^'^ 







LAKE CHAMPLAtN-. 191 

Diiraiitaye and Sieur de Laiigy, to make an 
attack on Eogers, who, with a party of the same 
number, was scouting in the neighborhood of 
the fort. Eogers was surprised, and utterly 
defeated. The Indians brought back one hun- 
dred and forty-four scalps, and some prisoners, 
among the latter, of whom were two officers, 
captain, afterward Major-General Henry Pringle, 
and Lieut. Koche.* Roofers retired with fifteen 
men and two officers. Three days afterward 
the two officers, having wandered about in a 
vain attempt to escape, came in and surren- 
dered themselves to the French. 

Rogers himself escaped by approaching Bald 
mountain, at the place since called Rogers' slide, 
then reversing his snow-shoes, and taking a 
back track for some distance, he swung himself 
by a convenient branch into a defile and found 
his way thence down into the lake. The In- 
dians, following his tracks, approached the slide, 
and were awe-struck at the apparent feat of "^ 

sliding down five or six hundred feet into the 
lake, and gave up the pursuit. 

June 2. Sieur Outelas, marching from Caril- 
lon to Fort Edward, at the head of twenty-nine 
Nepissings, and Algonquins, discovered a party 

*Doc. X, 713. 



192 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

of Englisli, Loups and Mohawks. Tliey " uttered 
the cry of attack, and buried the hatchet to the 
heft in the enemy, who, intimidated by the 
quickness of the attack, took to their heels. 
Four were killed and six taken prisoners." "^ 

Three great expeditions were this year formed 
for the conquest of Canada. One, led by Lord 
Amherst and James Wolfe, was intrusted with 
the siege and capture of Louisburg, which com- 
manded the entrance into the St. Lawrence. 
Another, for the conquest of the Ohio Yalley, 
\vas intrusted to General John Forbes.f The 
third, against Crown Point and Ticonderoga, ^ 

* Col. Haviland being in command at Fort Edward, the 
barracks, situated at tlie nortli-east bastion, accidentally 
canglit fire. The magazine, containing three hundred bar- 
rels of powder, stood but twelve feet distant, to save which 
the colonel ordered the cannon to play upon it, but without 
much effect. Putnam, who was still at the island, hurried 
across, and formed a line of soldiers, and, springing on to 
the roof, emptied buckets of water upon the barracks, one 
after the other, as they were passed up to him, until the 
fire was subdued. 

f Gen. Forbes reduced Fort Duquesne in 1758. He 
died Sunday, March 11, 1759, at Philadelphia. Dudley 
Bean states that Howe was a grandson of George I. But 
it does not appear by what authority. Knickerbocker Mag- 
azine for 1850. 

t Variously spelled as follows : 

Tianarago, Tiandrogo, 



OUTLET OF LAKE ST. SACEAMENT, 

TO ILLUSTRATE 

ABERCROMBIE'S ATfACK ON CARIU.ON, 

JULY 8, 1708. 










^ 




W 



</,///./. 






w'V- 




^^'iS'^ 






/ 



tA 






BEFERENCEB. 

Laii4UK tt l«r4 Nuw*. 
HrMirr brioo lb* R*pM*. 
Haw. Bill. 

Plarr arar whtrv I«r4 H«o« Wl- 
KfTsrh IJar*. 



1 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 193 

was given to Major-General James Abercrombie, 
a Scotchman, while the second in command was 
Lord George Augustus Yiscount Howe. 

The orders came to rendezvous at Albany, 
May 1. On the 9th of March Gen. Abercrom- 
bie dined with Governor De Lancey, on his way 
to town from the latter place. 14:th. An embargo 
was levied on all ships and vessels above fifty 
tons, in order that they could be used for the 
service. 15th. The assembly voted two thousand 
six hundred and eighty men for the expedition, 
besides those who had gone privateering, the 
bateau men and the wagoners who W'Cre im- 
pressed to convey up the provisions and stores. 
Oliver De Lancey, brother of the Governor, 
accepted the command, with the rank of 
colonel. 

The New York troops seem to have been 
organized into a single regiment. The follow- 
ing is a partial list of the officers : 

Lieut.-Colonel Leroux. 

Captain John Peter Smith, 134 men. 

" Ebeneezer Seeley, 103 

" John Verplanck, 98 



« 



Tianderogue, Tiantiroga, 

Atianerogne, Tiond'eroge, 

Atenderago, Tiondorogo, 

Tiondurogue, Tiyonduroga, 
Tyconderogue. 

17 



194 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

Capt. Jonathan Fowler, 123 men 

" Tliomas Arrowsmith, 67 " 

" Reuben Lockwood, 103 " 

" Stephen Nottingham, 100 " 

" John Mclvers, 100 " 

" Petrus Stuy vesant, 95 " 

" Thomas Williams, 

" Richard Hulet, 74 " 

" Jonathan Ogden, 

" Guy Johnson, 

" W. Heathcoat De Lancey, 

Capts. Joseph Crane, Wright, Stillwell, Van Pelt, Suy- 
dam, Brewerton. 

Ten pounds bounty was voted to each volun- 
teer.* 

22d. General Abercrombie, by letter to the 
Governor, apprehending that tlie army would 
be short of provisions, caused to be impressed, 
secured, and delivered to the contractors all the 
provisions they could find, they paying a rea- 
sonable price for the same. The ships, with 
the ordnance, arms, tents, and stores, sailed 
for 'New York, from Spithead, the first of 

* The troops received also clothing, to wit : hat, coat, pair 
buckskin breeches, two shirts, two pair stockings, two pair 
shoes, one blanket, also each company had tents, and the 
following rates of pay per day : To sergeants one shilling 
and eight pence ; corporals and drummers one shilling and 
sixpence ; privates one shilling and three pence. The officers 
liad twenty shillings for each man they enlisted. De Lan- 
cey's Proclamation {unpublished), March 25, 1758. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 195 

April. The taxes levied for this year were 
equal to one hundred and thirty pounds out 
of every two hundred pounds income. 

The interest in this campaign was univer- 
sal, and absorbed all the talent of the colo- 
nies. Among the important names who ap- 
pear in the Ticonderoga expedition are Thomas 
Gage, already distinguished by his services on 
the Monongahela, in Braddock's disastrous cam- 
paign, and at Lake George, in 1755, who now 
was raised to the rank of colonel, and who, 
seventeen years after, as Governor of Massa- 
chusetts and general-in-chief, commanded the 
British troops at Boston and Bunker Hill ; the 
daring David Worster, afterward a major-gen- 
eral of the Kevolution, he who received his 
death-wound while fio'htino; the British force on 
Ridgefield hill ; William, the son of Benjamin 
Franklin, then not twenty-seven years old, sub- 
sequently governor of 'New Jersey ; Rogers and 
Stark, who commanded the rangers, five hundred 
strong, each with a fire-lock and hatchet under 
his right arm, a powder-horn, and a leather bag 
of bullets at his waist, and to every ofiicer a 
pocket compass, as their guide through the for- 
est;* Israel Putnam, now lieutenant-colonel 

* Bancroft. 



196 LAKE GEORGE AND 



of one of the Connecticut regiments ; Captain 
Schuyler (the Philip Schuyler of the Revolution), 
who was the aid-de-camp and right arm of Gen. 
Howe, and now, in tlie commissary department, 
was engaged in forwarding the bateaux and 
supplies ; Lieut.-Col. Bradstreet, famous for his 
gallantry in this expedition, and in the subse- 
quent advance on, and capture of. Fort Fronte- 
nac, with forty cannon and a vast quantity of 
stores ; Duncan Campbell, a true Rob Roy f" 
Capt. Philip Skeene,t of the Enniskellen regi- 



* In the buryino;-ground of Fort Edward, Major Campbell 
was buried, and his inscription may still be seen on a red 
sandstone slab, as follows : 

" Here Lyes the Body of Duncan Campbell, of Invershaw, 
Esq., Major to the old Highland Regt., Aged 55 years. 
Who died the 17th July, 1758, of the Wounds he Received 
in The Attack of The Retrenchment of Ticonderoga or 
Carillon the 8th July, 1758." 

f In March, 1765, Skeene obtained a patent for the town- 
ship of Skeenesborough. In 1770 he established his resi- 
dence there, now Whitehall, built mills and forges, and 
opened the road to Bennington. In his obituary notice he 
is styled formerly lieutenant-governor of Crown Point and 
Ticonderoga, and surveyor of his Majesty's woods and forests 
bordering on Lake Champlain. The buildings of Skeene 
were of a very substantial kind. His house, situate on 
William street, Whitehall, was of stone, thirty by forty 
feet, and two and a half stories high. His barn, some dis- 
tance south, was also of stone, one hundred and thirty feet 



^ 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 19 T 

ment, who projected the settlement at Wood 
creek and South Bay, and settled about tlnrty 
families there ; John Campbell, who commanded 
the British forces in West Florida, and by 
whom Pensacola was, in 1781, surrendered to 
the Spaniards ; Charles Lee, appointed by Con- 
gress, major-general in the Continental army ; 
Cai.^t. James Marsh, who served on the British 
side, through the Ttevolutionarj^ war, and died 
a lieutenant-general in 1801; Capt. Richard 
Mather, of the Boyal American battalion ; Capt. 
Garin Cochran ; Major John Butherford,"^ of 
the Royal Americans, a member of the German 
privy council, and who had served in Sir Peter 
Hackett's brigade, in Braddock's campaign ; 
Capt. Joseph Schlosser, wdio afterward com- 
manded " Old Fort Schlosser," at l^iagara ; Col. 
Henry Babcock,f a captain in the battle of 
Lake George, in 1Y55 ; Capt. John Whiting, 
afterward lieutenant-colonel of the Rhode 



long. The doorway was arclied, and the keystone is still 
preserved in the wall of the Baptist Church. It bears the 
letters P. K. S., and the date 1770. 

* Major Rutherford was killed at the first attack on Ticon- 
deroga, July 8, 1758. 

fCol. Babcock afterward entered holy orders, and was 
engaged in founding a school for the education of the Mo- 
hawk Indians. 

17* 



198 LAKE GEORGE AND 

Island regiment ; Major William Eyre, who 
built Fort William Henry, and afterward was 
appointed chief-engineer of the army, and laid 
out a new fort at Ticonderoga ; Lieut.-Col. Wil- 
liam Haviland, of the Inniskilling foot, who 
became a major-general in the army, and served 
with distinction at the reduction of Havana. 
As the troops arrived at Albany they went 
into camp just below the city.* 

Lord Howe was the soul of the army, and 
possessed extraordinary powers of application. 
His hair, of the fashion of the courtiers of 
George II, was long and abundant. He had it 

* May 27. Gen. Abercrombie wrote to Gov. De Lancey, 
that a sentinel on duty at Albany had challenged one Bur- 
gen Hassen. On the second challenge, Hassen replied, 
" fire, and be damned," whereupon the sentry had fired and 
killed him. The coroner's inquest had found the fact to 
be murder by the sentry. He desired the Governor would 
order the civil magistrate to deliver over the prisoner to 
the military authorities, to be tried by court-martial, that 
His Majesty might not be deprived of the services of the 
man and tliose who must attend as witnesses in the ordinary 
course of law. It appeared to the council that the jury did 
not clearly understand the case, and that the people in gen- 
eral thought the deceased drew the punishment upon him- 
self. They advised the Governor to order the coroner to 
transmit the examinations of the witnesses, upon oath, to 
the intent that the prisoner may be admitted to bail, if bail- 
able by law. Manuscript Proceedings of Council. 



LAKE CIIAMPLAIN". 199 

cut short. He also wore a short coat, and 
he obliged his regiment to follow his example. 
He forbade all displays of gold and scarlet among 
both officers and men. He had the muskets of 
his regiment shortened, and the barrels black- 
ened, that they should not glisten in the sun, 
and, to prevent the sting of mosquitoes, he made 
them all wear canvas leo^2:ins. He mixed o!;in- 
ger with their water to prevent them from hav- 
ing the ague. His quarters were usually in the 
camp with his men, instead of in town at the 
houses of the hospitable Albanians. Always 
courteous and amiable, he respected the opinions 
and habits of those who liad been differently 
brought up. To the arrogant and presumptuous 
unfledged officer of European birth, he used to 
present the weapons of ridicule. " Knowledge 
and respect," said his lordship, " for the varied 
manners and opinions of others, will harmonize 
our great army, and will make it invincible. 
Any gentleman officer will find his equal in 
every regiment of the Americans. I know 
them well. Beware how you underestimate 
their abilities and feelings, civil, social and 
military."* 



* Dudley Bean, Letter from camp. Boston News Let- 
ter, June 22, 1758. 



200 LAKE GEORGE AND 



The British reofiments numbered the foUow- 



"o 



mg 



27th, Inniskilling foot, Lord Blakeney. 
42d, Highlanders, originally " The Black 
Watch^^ Lord John Murray.^ 
44:th, General Lord Abercrombie. 
46th, Lieutenant-General Tliomas Murray. 
55tli. Lord Yiscount Howe. 
60th, Royal Americans.f 
80th, Colonel Thomas Gage. 
Amono; the Provincial reo:iments were : 
New York, Colonel Oliver De Lancey. 
Rhode Island, Colonel Henry Babcock. 

* In the Black Watcli, among the subordinate officers, 
appear the names of Graham, Campbell, McNeil, Graeme, 
Stewart, Murray and Sterling, When Rob Roy was out- 
lawed, the name of McGregor was forbidden and that of 
Campbell was substituted. The Highland clans had their 
counselors, bards and songsters, who clothed their deeds 
with poetry and sang the songs of the departed. The 
losses of this regiment at the battle of Ticonderoga, were 
six hundred and forty-seven killed and wounded, including 
Major Duncan Campbell, and all but two officers. Three 
days after, when, at Fort Edward, the green sod was being 
placed over the graves of the Major, and Captain John Camp- 
bell, one, looking at the sad countenances of the others, who 
were performing these rites, at length said : " Who is our 
counselor now, and who will perform our dirges ?" Bean. 

f The 60th Royal Americans was composed of four battal- 
ions. The commander-in-chief of the forces in America, 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 201 

1st j^ew Jersey, Colonel Johns ton. 

2d ]^ew Jersey, Colonel Partridge. 

1st Connecticnt, Colonel Fitcli. 

2d Connecticut, Colonel David Wooster. 

3d Connecticnt, Colonel Phineas Lyman. 
Massachusetts, Colonel Preble. 

Five hundred Mohawks, Colonel Sir "William 
Johnson. 

General Abercrombie arrived in the city the 
first of June, and the army, then numbering 
thirteen thousand men, all in high spirits and in 
tolerable discipline, presented a show of mili- 
tary grandeur, such as Albany has never seen 
before or since. Boats and canoes, ammunition 
and supplies, were hurried forward to Fort 
Edward in the charge of teamsters and boatmen 
hired and impressed from all parts of the 
country. 



was usually tlie colonel ex officio of the regiment. Lord 
Viscount Howe was colonel commandant, Feb. 25, 1757, 
and was transferred to the 55th as colonel, Sept. 26, 1757. 
At this time it had the following officers : 

Colonel Commandant — Robert Monckton. 

Lieutenant-Colonels — Henry Boquet, Frederick Haldiman, 
St. John St. Clair, John Young. 

Majors — James Robertson, John Rutherford, Augustus 
Prevost, John Tullikens. 

The 2d and 4th battalions were with this expedition. 



202 LAKE GEORGE AND 

On the 5tli, Lord Howe moved forward with 
one-half of the army, arriving at Fort Edward 
on the 8th.* 

The second division, under the commander- 
in-chief, followed, and extended, with their 
trains, according to a writer of that day, a dis- 
tance of seventeen miles. 

Rogers, with fifty men, and boats in wagons, 
pushed forward to make a reconnoisance of the 
fort at Ticonderoga, and the force therein. 
Returning without delay to report, he found 

* Aunt Schuyler, as this amiable young officer familiarly 
styl<5(t his maternal friend, had a high esteem for him, and 
the greatest hope that he would, at some future time, redress 
the evils that had formerly impeded the service. In the 
morning Lord Howe proposed setting out very early, but 
when he arose he was astonished to find Madame Schuyler 
waiting and breakfast ready. He smiled, and said he would 
not disappoint her, as it was hard to say when he would 
again dine with a lady. Impressed with an unaccountable 
degree of concern about the fate of the enterprise in which 
he was embarked, she again repeated her counsels and her 
caution, and, when he was about to depart, embraced him 
with the affection of a mother, and shed many tears, a weak- 
ness she did not often give way to. A few days after, in the 
afternoon, a man was seen coming on horseback from the 
north, galloping violently, without his hat. Pedram ran 
eagerly to inquire, well knowing he rode express. The 
man galloped on, crying out that Lord Howe was killed. 
Shrieks and sobs of anguish re-echoed from every part of the 
house. Letters of an American Lady, vol. ii, p. 373. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 20 



Q 



Lord Howe encamped at the Half-way brook. 
June 22 they arrived at the lake ; Rogers 
encamping with his rangers on the slope of the 
hill occupied formerly by De Levi, near the 
Hendrick Spring, and Lord Howe on the rocky 
eminence known as Fort George. 

" Putnam was liere detached with fifty rangers to scout 
along Wood creek and South Bay. He proceeded down the 
creek to " Fiddler's Elbow," about a mile below Whitehall, 
where high rocks jut into the stream, and, compressing it 
into narrow limits, make a short and sudden curve. On 
this he erected a stone breastwork, about thirty feet long, 
and concealed its front by pine trees, so placed as to present 
the appearance of a natural growth of forest. On the fourth 
day, at evening, a body of men from Carillon, in boats, 
commanded by M. Marin, was seen entering the mouth of 
the creek. The moon was at its full, and shed its clear, 
yellow light upon every movement of the enemy. In the 
dead silence was heard the murmur of voices, and even the 
ripples that broke around the barges. Continuing to 
advance, some of the boats had already passed the parapet, 
when a soldier's musket, accidently striking a stone, gave a 
ring so audible, in the stillness of the evening, that the 
leading canoes stopped. The others coming up, they lay 
upon their oarS" at the base of the cliflf — five hundred men 
crowded together, their upturned faces distinctly seen by 
the light of the evening. They gazed intently at the para- 
pet, upon the apex of which, like a bird of prey in his 
eyrie, Putnam was watching his victims. The low "O'lcish " 
of the Indian stole over the water. A moment more, and 
the word "Fire!" broke upon their ears in startling clear- 
ness from the lips of the provincial commander. At once 
the flash of musketry gleamed from the bushes, and a 



204 LAKE GEORGE AND 

shower of balls sent deatli into the mass beneath. All was 
confusion ; and while some moved out from the thickest 
of the crowd, others replied by a volley of bullets, which 
cut through the trees and struck harmlessly against the rocks. 
The fight, such as it was, was continued during the entire 
night. The French detached a body of men to effect a land~ 
ing and charge upon the rear of the provincials. Lieut. Rob- 
ert Durkee, with a detail of twelve men, was sent to oppose 
them in this design, in which he succeeded. In the morn- 
ing, his ammunition being exhausted, Putnam retreated, 
leaving two wounded soldiers. As he was falling back, the 
commander was met by a party who had come out to his 
assistance. Before they could be recognized, they received 
a volley, which, however, was harmless. " Friends or foes," 
says Putnam, "you deserve to perish for doing so little 
execution." Lieut Durkee was shot in the thigh at the 
massacre at Wyoming, 1780." 

June 28th brought to Lake George the 
remainder of the army with Abercrombie, 
whose white tents, defined with military pre- 
cision over the hills and on the rising plains, 
extended from the water's edge, and half 
encircling it quite around the west side 
and outside the lines of Montcalm, beyond 
the artillery cove.* The encampment formed 
a scene of grandeur and display which had 
never been equalled in the 'New World. 
But not the brilliant appearance of military 



* To and including the plateau of the Caldwell Manor 
House. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 205 

equipage or the extent of tlie camp, wliicli will 
lead captive the imagination, formed the most 
extraordinary characteristic of the drama ; it 
was the marked individuality which character- 
ized the whole. Tliere were the courtiers of a 
great kingdom, the liigh-born noblemen of a 
race who had possessed their domain for a thou- 
sand years, the red chiefs of North American 
wilds, the grenadiers who had grown brown in 
the service of the east, their different corps ; 
their widely extended fame ; all these, with the 
regulars from the ISTorth American colonies, and 
the inimitable rangers — who could doubt their 
success ? It was a regalia, a regatta party of 
all nations costumed in the various colors of • 
military pomp, of royal courts, of clans, prov- 
inces and the forest ; and the lake, calm and still, 
faithfully reflected back the beauty of the 
scene. 

Such was the appearance of the encampment 
on the evening of the fourth day of July, 1Y58. 
At daylight on the morning of Sunday, the 
fifth, according to the order, the tents were 
struck and the army in vast columns converged 
to three points for the embarkation, two on the 
beach in front of Fort George and William 
Henry, and the third from the temporary dock 
on the west side. 
18 



206 LAKE GEORGE AND 

The center division was formed of the gren- 
adiers and highlanders. The wings were com- 
posed of the provincials, led by Colonel Gage 
on the right, and on the left by Major Rogers. 
The army comprised 6,350 regulars and 9,000 
j)rovincials. 

The fleet consisted of nine hundred bateaux, 
one hundred and thirty-five whale-boats, nu- 
merous rafts carrying the artillery, and two huge 
castles, highly decorated, each with two mounted 
cannon, and from which the English flag towered 
the highest.* The parallel colunms now moving 
extended from shore to shore, and covered the 
lake for six miles and a half. In the narrows 
and passing the islands, they defiled, forming 
subdivisions. "Leaving these, they reformed, 
moving in stately procession down tlie beautiful 
lake, bright with banners, cheered by martial 
music, beaming with hope and pride, though 
with no witness but the wilderness." f 

Twenty-five miles brought them past where 
the mountains " step down to the water's edge," 
and at a place already famous in partisan legend, 
but henceforth to be known as Sabbath-day 
Point, in the picturesque loveliness of tlie 
forest, enhanced " by the richest hues of even- 

*Bean. f Bancroft. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 207 

ing liglit," at five o'clock tliey landed. Here 
was the scene of the unfortunate defeat of Col. 
Parker last year, whose melancholy remains, 
both on land and shore, were still visible. 

Lord Howe, reclining on a bear-skin in the 
tent of his friend Stark, questioned him closely 
as to the position of Ticonderoga and the fittest 
modes of attack. Lighting immense fires they 
favored the belief that they would remain all 
night, but at ten o'clock the artillery and rear 
brigades having come up, they moved on to the 
landing place, which they reached early in the 
morning. 

Montcalm had arrived at Carillon, or Ticon- 
deroga, on the 30th June. 

July 1. At day-break he dispatched Bour- 
lemaque, with three regiments, to occupy the 
head of the portage, and proceeded himself, 
w^ith four others, to the falls, on both sides of 
Avhich he encamped, leaving the third battalion 
of Berri, to guard the fort. 

July 2. At five o'clock a. m., two musket 
shots were heard, which caused the regiments 
to stand to arms, when word came from the 
captain of the guard, that having " discovered 
a feather," he had promptly retired behind a 
tree, which saved him from a shot that was 
fired by a hostile Indian, who was ready to 



208 LAKE GEORGE AND 

pounce upon liim, tomahawk in hand. He re- 
turned the fire, which the Indian evaded by 
falling on the ground, and fled, when the ofiicer 
called out A moi Yoluntairesy 

5th. Sunday, service as usuaL At two o'clock 
p. M. saw a white flag on the Black Mountain* 
hoisted and lowered, which was a signal that 
barges were upon the lake. De Langy's detach- 
ment of one hundred and seventy-eight vol- 
unteers returned, reporting that they had been 
lip as far as Ganouskie Bay and been chased 
by sixty barges. Capt. De Trepezec, of the 
Beam regiment, with a detachment of three 
hundred men, was immediately sent off" to 
Bald Mountain, to observe the movements 
of the English and to oppose their landing. 
At day-light the English barges were observed 
coming forward in order, and appearing in 
search of a place for landing. At eight o'clock, 
Bourlemaque gave orders to have the tents struck. 
He remained with the rear guard, fired at the 
barges as they approached, and withdrew. Ar- 
riving at the falls, he was posted on the right 
of the La Sarre brigade, at the foot of the 
heights. The Rousillons were withdrawn from 

* The Indian name for Bald Mountain was, Tekagli- 
weanga-ra-negliton. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 209 

the right bank, and the bridges broken up. At 
four o'clock several shots were heard, which 
proved to be fired at De Trepezec, who a few 
minutes afterward arrived, with some soldiers 
mortally wounded. He lost his way, through 
the fault of his guide. After defending himself 
for some time, fifty or sixty of his men escaped, 
the rest were either killed or captured. On 
landing, the English army formed and marched 
in four columns, preceded by the rangers, who 
were ordered to take post on the north moun- 
tain. The right column of the center division, 
commanded by Lord Howe, having advanced to 
Trout brook, fell in with De Trepezec, as above 
stated. In his column were Cols. Lyman, Fitch 
and De Lancey, who formed the front, and 
received the first fire. Capt. Burbank, with 
one hundred and fifty men, was ordered to 
remain at Rogers' first position, while the 
latter, with the remainder of the force, fell 
upon the enemy's left — the river covering the 
right. Kallying from their bewilderment, and 
desperate from their position, hemmed in on all 
sides, the fire of the French and Indians was 
severe, and the action became general. The 
ground was uneven, and densely covered with 
thick and tangled underbrush, so that there was 
but little form or order to the battle. Kjishing 

18* 



210 LAKE GEORGE AND 

forward, Lord Howe saw the very musket aimed 
at him, and within twenty feet of liim, wdiich a 
moment more he w^ould have stricken down, 
but which discharged the fatal messenger by 
which he was instantly killed. Colonel Delan- 
cey was within iifteen feet of him, and leaping 
forward, w^ith others who had watched him, the 
pride of the army fell into the arms of those 
who had loved him. '' He is dead," said De- 
lancey, '^ onward and avenge his death." The 
provincials and rangers fought with renewed 
earnestness. 

The French would make no formal surrender, 
but being overpowered and pressed in every 
direction by the vastly outnumbering English, 
were slain in parties of two or three in their 
ambuscades or behind trees. Two hundred 
were killed, one hundred and forty-eight made 
prisoners, and about seventy-five escaped. 
These were forwarded to ISTew York, under the 
charge of Capt. Jeremiah Richards, of the 
Massachusetts forces.^ The loss of the Eng- 

* Headley says : " The prisoners were placed on a little isle, 
since called Prisoner's island, wliich. is connected to the main- 
land by a ledge rising' to within eighteen inches of the sur- 
face. This was, of course, unknown to the English ; but in 
the night the prisoners walked off. As Montcalm dryly 
remarked, 'they took French leave.'" But, pe7' contra : In 



LAKE CHAMPLAIK. 211 

lisli, incliTdirig Lord Howe* and tliose severely 
wounded, was twenty-two. So closed the events 
of the day, and the army that night rested on 
the battle-ground. 

7th. The next day, the troops, having been 
greatly fatigued, by being one night on the 
water, the next day constantly on foot, and the 
next night under arms, added to their want of 
provision, returned to the landing place. About 
eleven o'clock a. m., Lieut.-Col. Bradstreet, with 
the Forty-fourth regiment, the Urst battalion 
of Roval Americans, the bateau men, the 
rangers, and provincials, set out to take posses- 
sion of the saw-mill, within two miles of the 

the manuscript council minutes for 1758, page 219, is tlie 
account of Capt. Richards attending and acquainting the 
council that he had brought down under his care one hun- 
dred and twenty-five French prisoners, seven of whom are 
officers. Whereupon * ^ ordered that the prisoners 
do proceed to Brockhaven, in Suffolk county, there to be 
delivered to George Muirson, Esq., high sheriff of that 
county, who is hereby directed to receive them and to dis- 
tribute them in proper places, having particular regard to 
place the Canadians in places where they will be least liable 
to make their escape. 

* " He was," said Abercrombie, " very deservedly and uni- 
versally respected and beloved throughout the whole army. 
It is easy to conceive the grief and consternation his 
untimely fall occasioned. I cannot help owning that I felt 
it most heavily, and lament him as sincerely." 



212 LA.KE GEOKGE AND 

fort, whicli was soon effected, as the French had 
retired the day before. Bradstreet laid down a 
new bridge, and the army marched that night, 
and took up their quarters there. The French 
had already proceeded to build an abatis, cover- 
ing the whole of the ground between the falls 
and the reserved timber on Lake Champlain. 
At five o'clock in the evening, *' the ground was 
equally divided between each wheelbarrow, 
and made one hundred and twenty-seven paces 
for each." In the evening, the troops under 
De Levi, which were designed for an attack on 
the German flats, but had been recalled, arrived 
and encamped in the rear of the three brigades. 
8th. At five o'clock a. m., each battalion was 
set to work to strengthen the abatis, one 
hundred and fifty paces in front of which the 
pickets were posted, to protect the workmen. 
The same morning Abercrombie sent out Col. 
Clark, the chief-engineer, across the river, to 
make a reconnoisance, from Mount Defiance. 
Upon his return he gave a favorable report of 
the practicability of carrying the works by storm. 
The reports of the prisoners, having also given 
information of the expected re-enforcements, 
under De Levi, who, as before stated, had 
already arrived, an assault was ordered that 
very day. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 213 

Ticonderoga is the part wliicli includes the 
military grounds, just as they now appear, ex- 
tending from the point of land made by the 
confluence of the waters back on the shores of 
each, for one mile, and here the first wall of the 
fort — the old French lines, as they are called — ■ 
extend across from water to water, three-fourths 
of a mile. In this triangular formation, within 
their strong intrenchment, lay the entire French 
army. Had Colonel Clark ordered a road built 
up to, and a battery placed on, Mount De- 
fiance, as Burgoyne afterward did, he would 
have commanded the place and they would have 
been obliged to retreat, without the power to 
strike a blow. Bat this was not to be. De 
Levi had charge of the defenses of the right, 
with the regiments of La Reine, Beam and 
Gayenne ; Bourlemaque of the left, with the 
battalions of La Sarre and Lauguedock ; while 
Montcalm retained the center,* with the bat- 
talions of Berry and Eousillon. In all, the 
French force was 3,250 men. Each battalion 
had a reserve of pickets and grenadiers stationed 



* The spot where Montcahn stood is plainly identified 
about ninety yards north of the traveled road and a few 
rods in rear of the old lines. Montcalm had his coat off 
during the entire action. 



214 LAKE GEORGE AND 

beliind it. The right and left rested on a ravine, 
protected each by a battery. The center fol- 
lowing the sinuosities of the ground and keep- 
ing on the summit of the heights, flanked the 
wings reci|)rocally. For additional defenses 
the oak trees were felled in front of the lines 
for a hundred yards, tlieir branches sharpened 
and pointed outward. 

Experience has shown a work of this kind, 
when defended by resolute men, to be in fact 
impregnable. 

On the morning of this day. Colonel Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson joined the English army with live 
hundred Indians from the Six IS^ations, who 
took post on Mount Defiance, silent spectators 
of the extraordinary fight that was about to 
take place. 

The orders of Abercrombie provided for the 
rangers, the light infantry, and the right wing 
of the provincials to march immediately and 
post themselves in a line out of cannon-shot of 
the intrenchment ; their right '^ extending to 
Lake George and their left resting on Lake 
Cliamplain." These were supported by the six 
regiments of Massachusetts and the first bat- 
talion of the I^ew York regiment. The gren- 
adiers were to form in their rear, and they in 
turn to be supported by the battalions of the 



LAKE CHAMPLAEN". 215 

Connecticut and New Jersey regiments. The 
whole were ordered to move up briskly, and 
not to deliver tlieir fire until they were witliin 
the enemy's breastworks. 

Two rafts were constructed, each to receive 
two six-pounders, which descended the river, 
and took the intrenchment in the rear. Three 
pieces of artillery were brought to bear upon 
these from the fort, aided by Barnard's and 
Duprat's sharp-shooters, which sank one of the 
rafts and a pontoon, and drove back some twenty 
barges which had advanced to support them. 

At one o'clock, when the midday sun poured 
down its hottest rays upon the scene of strife, 
Abercrombie gave the fatal order to attack.* 
On the left were Rogers' rangers, in the center 
the bateaux men of Colonel Bradstreet, and on 
the right Colonel Gage's light infantry. 

Tliese marched up, and, having received the 
fire from the works, they moved aside and the 
reo;ular battalions came to the front. These 
again were sustained by the 42d Highlanders, 
then in the height of deserved reputation gained 
at Fontenoy and elsewhere, and the 55th, now 
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Prideaux. 
With steady step the intrepid columns pressed 

* Abercrombie's dispatch. Warburton, ii, p. 93. 



216 LAKE GEOKGE AND 

on tlirougli the heavy swamps and tangled nnder- 
wood, their ranks now shattered by the deliber- 
ate fire of the French, now broken by the 
uneven ground ; they passed into the fallen 
timber and endeavored to force themselves 
through the impenetrable abatis. The French 
artillery played upon the center. Still, with 
thinned but unbroken column, they pushed, 
unfaltering, through the one hundred yards of 
fallen trees. The Highlanders, who should have 
been in reserve, rushed to the front ; active, 
impetuous, they reached the trenches at the 
parapet, which were here found to be twenty 
feet wide. Captain John Campbell and a few 
of the Kob Roys forced their way over the 
breastwork, but were instantly dispatched by 
the bayonet. " Fresh troops pressed on, rival- 
ing the courage and sharing the fate of those 
who had led the way. For nearly four hours, 
like the succeeding waves of an ebb tide, they 
attacked again and again, each time losing 
somewhat of their vantage ground; now fiercely 
rushing on, unflinchingly enduring the murder- 
ous fire, tlien sullenly falling back to reform 
their broken ranks for a fresh efi:brt. It was 
vain at last, as it was at first, the physical dif- 
ficulties were impassable ; and upon that rude 
barrier, which the simplest maneuver would 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN'. 217 

have avoided, or one hour of well plied artillery 
would have swept away, the flower of British 
chivalry was crushed and broken.* 

An accident at last arrested this melancholy 
carnage. A British column, having lost their 
way and become bewildered in the forest, when 
they finally emerged upon the open ground, 
perceived a fire close in their front, and, as they 
supposed, from the French intrenchments. 
Promptly they poured in a volley upon the sup- 
posed enemy. But when the breeze from the 
lake lifted up the smoke, they saw, to their con- 
fusion, that their shots had fallen with fatal 
precision among their own brethren. 

At five o'clock the columns concentrated 
themselves upon the angle defended by the 
battalion of Guyenne, so that the danger became 
imminent there. De Levi hastened thither 
with some troops from tlie right, and Mont- 
calm, also, with part of the reserve. 

At six o'clock both columns turned upon the 
right against the battalions of Eousillon and 
Berry, and, being again repulsed, made a part- 
ing charge on the left. '' Tlie fire on the one 
side and the other, was like that at the battle 
of Parma." 



* Warburton's Conquest of Canada, ii, 94. 
19 



218 LAKE GEORGE AND 

At seven o'clock the English, covered by the 
fire of the rangers and provincials, retreated, 
abandoning, with the field of battle, the dead 
and a large portion of their wounded. The 
slaughter, which had been almost uninterrupt- 
edly carried on for five hours, now ceased, the 
fortunes of the day were decided, and a mass 
of human bodies, dying and dead, covered the 
ground even far beyond the lines and strong 
battlements of the enemy. The number killed 
and wounded was 1,942, of which 1,608 were 
regulars, and 334 were provincials. The loss 
of the enemy proved to be 380. 

The English regiments retired successively. 
Most of their oflicers had been struck down. 
There was no one to command, Abercrombie 
being: two miles to the rear at the saw-mills. 
As they fell back, their disorder became irre- 
trievable, and those who had been foremost in 
the assault, were soon the first in the disgrace- 
ful flight. Highlanders, rangers, provincials 
and grenadiers scarce looked behind them in 
their terror, wdien no man pursued. 

The fugitives rallied at the saw-mill around 
the rear guard which were posted at the head- 
quarters. But before confidence was restored, 
an extraordinary command of Abercrombie, to 
fall back to the landing, increased the panic. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 219 

The troops, breaking from all order and control, 

crowded toward tlie boats. Fortunately Brad- 

street, who seems always to have been in the 

right place, still had a small force, wdiich, like 

himself, were not shaken by the panic. He 

threw himself with prompt decision before the 

landing place, and would not suffer a man to 

embark. After awhile regularity was restored, 

and the troops held their ground for the night. 

On the morning of the 9th, orders w^ere issued 

to re-embark the army, notwithstanding that it 

contained still 12,000 fighting men and several 

good intrenched camps. The army reached 

Fort William Henry in the evening, having been 

absent five days. The wounded ofiicers and 

men w^ere sent to Fort Edward and Albany. 

At the time of his death Lord Howe was 

thirty-four years old. Massachusetts Bay voted 

£250 for a monument to his memory, which 

was placed in Westminster Abbey, and bears 

the following inscription : 

" The province of Massacliusetts Bay, in New England, 
by an order of tlie great and general court, bearing date 
February 1, 1759, caused this monument to be erected to 
the memory of George Lord Viscount Howe, Brigadier- 
General of his Majesty's forces in North America, who was 
slain July 6, 1758, on his march to Ticonderoga, in the 
tliirty.fourth year of his age, in testimony of the sense they 
had of his services and military virtues, and of the affection 
their officers and soldiers bore to his command. He lived 



220 LAKE GEORGE AND 

respected and beloved. The public regretted liis loss ; to 
his family it is irreparable." 

His body was conveyed back througli Lake 
George in the midst of the army of which he 
had been the pride and the idoL Under the 
charge of his friend and companion, Capt. Pliilip 
Schuyler, the remains were forwarded to Fort 
Edward, thence taken to Albany, and found a 
temporary resting place in the vault of the sor- 
rowing family who mourned him as one of 
their own. Subsequently, with all the pomp 
of military display, to the tolling of the bells, 
the discharge of minute guns, and the playing 
of a dirge, in the presence of thousands, the 
relics were borne in state to the " English 
Church." There, with solemn Episcopal rites, 
and to the singing of a requiem, the coffin, 
wrapped in a prepared canvas, disappeared from 
public view, and was placed in a vault under 
the chancel, marked with the heraldic insignia 
of his family. 

Forty-four years glided away. Two gen- 
erations of men had succeeded. Those ideas 
which the imaginations of the great Franklin 
and other fathers, near this spot — "glancing 
from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven "^ — 
had bodied forth as tlie forms of things divine, 
were called into shapes ; and the airy nothings 




PHIIi. SCHUYIiER. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 221 

found a local habitation and a name. The 
'' Albany plan of union " had assumed a reality, 
revised and enlarged, as the basis of one of 
the most powerful nations on the globe. A 
new and stately house of worship had been 
erected to take the place of the low-browed 
church in the street. In the presence of those 
to most of whom the events chronicled in these 
pages had become a matter of tradition, the 
vault was opened. The decayed coffin of rich 
mahogany w^as revealed that contained the 
ashes of the gallant dead, enshrouded in habili- 
ments of gorgeous silk. The hair, dressed in the 
fashion of tlie age, was found to have grown 
several inches ; the ribbon that bound it was 
yet black and glossy. All, on exposure, shrank 
into dust. The remains, inclosed in a new chest, 
were reverently placed along the north wall 
of the modern edifice. Twenty-four others, 
who, in a former age, had, either from their 
social position or the sanctity of their lives, been 
deemed worthy to be buried under the former 
church, were also removed, and their bones 
placed side by side near the foundation. 

Fifty-seven years had elapsed, and again in 
March, 1859, the " Spirit of the Age" swept 
over, and touched the place with its magic wand 

of improvement. Under its inspiration the now 
19* 



222 LAKE GEOKGE 

venerable stone building disappeared, its place 
to be taken by the beautiful gotliic St. Peter's, 
■which now occupies the ground. 

Again the sacred remains, inclosed by a 
double coffin, were revealed to view, and still 
the two pieces of ribbon which bound his hair 
together were preserved. Once more the coffin 
was inclosed by another, and, by the new gene- 
ration, carefully and reverently, near the south- 
west corner of the new church, was placed in a 
prepared receptacle, there to remain until, at the 
buo^le call at the last reveille, his bones will 
start, and his soul will answer to the TOTAL 
MUSTEK.'^ 



* Chancellor Kent's Historical discourse. Agricultural 
Transactions, 1852. Winslow C. Watson. Albany Evening 
Journal, April, 1859. Letter of Mrs. Cochran. Lossing. 

No monument marks the spot where Lord Howe fell, or 
where his remains are deposited. The records of St. Peter's 
contain no mention of the spot. Would it not be appropri- 
ate that at least a tablet should be placed within the tower 
of the church to commemorate the deceased ? The esteemed 
author of the " centennial address " suggests, among others, 
a monument to Hendrick, the Mohawk chieftain, but he 
strangely omits the mention of one to the memory of him 
with whom his family were on such intimate terms of friend- 
ship. To raise a monument to the representative of the 
wild Indian, and omit to do similar honor to the heroic 
chivalrous leader of the Anglo-Saxon, seems like raising 
Caliban to the throne of Prospero, the rightful heir. 




CHAPTER X. 

FkONTENAC taken — AMBUSH AT THE FOUR-MILE POST — AMBUSH AT 
HALF-WAY BROOK — ROGERS' AND PUTNAM'S BATTLE — PUTNAM 
TAKEN PRISONER — AMHERST IN COMMAND — CAMPAIGN OF 1759 — 
HALF THE ARMY AT LAKE GEORGE — THEY MOVE ON TO CARILLON — 
FORT FREDERICK ABANDONED — CONCLUSION. 

BERCEOMBIE, with " his iiow use- 
^^ less " army, proceeded to fortify him- 
^<r~^^ self at Lake Georo-e.* His intrench- 
^^"^>J ments extended from the south side 
of the rocky eminence on a general course abont 
north fifty degrees west, until they struck the. 
ravine, under Rattlesnake hill, near the Garri- 
son mill, and included the lines known as Fort 
Gage. He also occupied Diamond and Long 
islands, with a guard of four hundred men each, 
and built a sloop of war carrying sixteen guns. 
The dashing Col. Bradstreet was detached, with 
a force of two thousand seven hundred men, 

* Bancroft says : " He sent artillery and ammunition to 
Albany for safety. But, pe?' contra, tliey intrenclied on the 
ruins of Fort William Henry, retaining all their artillery 
and ammunition." Doc. x, 819. 

" Since the 8th July, Abercrombie has spent the time 
in fortifying himself, and threatening Carillon with a 
second visit." Montcalm, ^Ist Sept., 1758. 



22tt: LAKE GEORGE AND 

against Fort Froiitenac, on Lake Ontario, in 
which enterj^rise he was eminently successful, 
and after razing the fortress and destroying the 
vessels and such stores as could not be broug^ht 
off, he returned to Lake George. 

The French were never idle. July 16th, a 
party of twenty soldiers and tliree officers were 
ambushed by a detachment of Canadians and 
Indians. '' The impatience of the Indians pre- 
vented the detachment destroying a party of 
three hundred Eno-lish, who had taken refuo^e in 
a small stockaded fort^ lately erected to serve as 
a depot ^ on the Fort Edward roadP'^ 

July 30. A train of fifty-four wagons, each 
of which was drawn by two yoke of oxen, was 
leisurely proceeding over the road to Lake 
George, escorted by a lieutenant and forty men. 
The wagons were loaded with flour, pork, 

* I am inclined to think that this fort is the one located on 
Isaac Smith's farm, about one-fourth of a mile below Brown's 
Half-way house. The last of the pickets was visible in 1845 ; 
but the ground has since been industriously plowed, over, 
and is now nearly obliterated. There were two forts, one 
here, and the other at the seven-mile post, which was at the 
Half-way brook. The latter was built, by Col, Grant, the 
year following, as will be seen. I find the following French 
references: August 1. A deserter reports that they have 
seven hundred men at the Half-way depot. Doc. x, 850. 
September 29. An English deserter reports he left six thou- 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 225 

liquors, effects, merchandise, and some baggage 
belonging to Gen. Abercrombie, among which 
was his music. They were also accompanied 
by sutlers, traders, women and children. Near 
Half-way brook they were attacked by M. de 
La Oorne, commanding a body of four hundred 
Canadians and Indians, who killed the oxen, 
two hundred and thirty in number, knocked in 
the liquor barrels, and pillaged and burnt the 
wao;ons. La Corne secured one hundred and 
ten scalps, and took, including the officers, 
eighty-four prisoners, of whom twelve were 
women or girls.* On the receipt of the news 
of this attack Abercrombie sent out a detach- 
ment of iiv^e hundred men, commanded by 
Majors Rogers and Putnam, to intercept the 
French at South Bay. But they were too late, 
and La Corne reached Carillon in safety. Rogers 

sand at Fort George, eight hundred in the Entrepot Fort, 
and one thousand five hundred at Fort Edward. Doc. x, 
855. It was intended doubtless to prevent a repetition of 
the scenes of Johnson's campaign of 1755, of which Aber- 
crombie would be likely to entertain a wholesome dread. 
It protected the entrance to the Bloody defile, and would 
certainly prevent any large body from planting an ambus- 
cade. It is curious that Tryon's map locates this as Fort 
Amherst. But this is, of course, a mistake. The latter was 
the fort at Half-way brook. (See page .) 
* Bancroft, Doc. x, 818. 



220 LAKE GEORGE AND 

was on the point of returning, when he received 
advice that M. Marin was on his way from 
Carillon with a detachment of five hundred 
men, and was ordered to scout down toward 
Fort Edward. The divisions, which had become 
separated, one having gone over to Wood creek, 
were now ordered to reunite, and measures were 
concerted to withdraw as directed. The com- 
mand moved in three columns ; two led by 
Rogers and Putnam, respectively, and the third 
by Capt. Daly ell. At evening they encamped 
on Clear river, about a mile west of Fort Ann. 
The next morning Rogers amused himself by 
iirino- at a mark with one of his officers. 

At this time Marin was but a mile and a 
half distant, and by means of the firing was 
enabled to place himself in an ambuscade for 
them. The engagement took place about seven 
o'clock A. M., Aug. 8th. Marin put in two vol- 
leys, which caused the provincials to waver. 
Putnam halted and returned the fire. Dalyell's 
detachment came up and supported him. Rogers 
made a detour toward Wood creek, in order, as 
he said, to prevent the enemy from passing in 
that direction and falling upon their rear. The 
men, scattered behind trees, maintained their 
ground, there being little distinction between 
officers and privates. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 227 

As Putnam thus stood fighting, a powerful 
Indian, tomahawk in hand, sprung upon him. 
His musket, held to the very breast of the sav- 
age, missed fire. The latter immediately bound 
him to a tree, and left him there, to mingle 
again in the fight. A young brave passing by, 
took deliberate aim, and hurled his tomahawk 
directly, to appearance, at the head of the cap- 
tive. It barely missed its mark, and stuck- in 
the tree, the handle quivering in the face of the 
prisoner. A second and third time he repeated 
the experiment, till it became apparent he was 
merely amusing himself at the expense of the 
captive, and did not intend to hit him. At 
length he retired. 

The engagement continued for about one 
hour, when the Americans proved victorious, 
and Marin withdrew, taking with him some 
prisoners, including Putnam, whose hands were 
tied, his shoes and stockings taken off, and his 
back loaded down with the packs of the Indi- 
ans. At night they stripped him, bound him 
to a tree, and prepared to roast him ; but a 
shower extinguished the fire. At length the 
flames caught and began to wreath and crackle 
and shoot, up their spiral folds around him, 
while the Indians danced and sung and filled 
the forest with their discordant yells. At that 



228 LAKE GEORGE AND 

moment the commander, who had just arrived, 
seeing the entertainment to which his savage 
allies had invited themselves, dashed in, and, 
scattering the fire-brands, released the victim.* 

Marin retm'ned to Carillon with his prisoners, 
who were forwarded to Montreal, and the suc- 
ceeding winter, through the agency of Col. 
Schuyler, of the l^ew Jersey regiment. Major 
Putnam was exchanged. 

The news of the disaster at Carillon soon 
reached Lord Amherst, now the conqueror of 
Louisburg. He immediately, without orders, 
embarked with four regiments, and a battalion 
of the Royal Americans, for Boston. They 
landed in September, and at once marched 
through the woods to Albany. Amherst has- 
tened to Lake George, w^here he arrived on the 
fifth. On the third of T^Tovember, Abercrombie 
was recalled and returned to England, and Lord 
Amherst was appointed commander-in-chief in 
his place. The season was too far advanced for 
offensive operations. The intrenchments were 
therefore abandoned, the barges conveyed to 
Fort Edward, and sent down the river, the 
sloops scuttled and sunk, some of the guns 
buried, and the army retired into winter quar- 

* Bancroft ; Fitcli ; Headley. 




LORD AMHERST. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 229 

ters, at Albany, Schenectady, 'New York, and 
Virginia. Eight hundred men were left at the 
lake, fifteen hundred at Fort Edward, and one 
hundred and fifty men at Fort Miller."^ 

The seventh army for the conquest of Canada 
commenced assembling at Albany, for the final 
movement, on the first of March, 1759. It was 
composed of the 1st, 17th, 27th (Inniskillings), 
42d, 55tli, 77th and 80th regulars, and the pro- 
vincial regiments of Schuyler, Lyman, Ruggles, 
'♦Vhiting, Worcester, Fitch, Babcock, Lovewell, 
and "Willard, and a detachment of artillery 
under the command of Major Ord. Four hun- 
dred bateaux awaited the troops at Half-moon 
(Waterford). 

May 29th. A detachment, under command 
of Major West, composed of regulars, light- 
infantry, provincials and rangers, moved up and 
took post on the road from Fort Edward to Lake 
George, and there constructed a small stockaded 



* While lying in his canoe, near this place, Putnam 
found himself suddenly surrounded by a party of Indians. 
There was no outlet of escape from being shot, except by 
" shooting the rapids." To attempt this seemed certain 
death, yet he boldly turned, and, to the amazement of the 
savages, as they saw his boat whirled amid the foaming 
eddies and the rocks, he steered his frail craft safely 
through. 

20 



230 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

fort, with two bastions and a moat.* The 
movement of the army had ah'eady commenced. 
The advance was under the command of Col. 
Haviland. June 1. The Highlanders moved 
up to Half-moon, and took charge of the artil- 
lery, which, with the supplies, went up by water, 
and on the sixth they went into camp at Fort 
Edward. Gen. Gage remained at Albany, to 
bring up the heavy stores. As the troops arrived 
at Fort Edward they were placed in camp in 
the positions assigned to them in order of battle, 
the first and second brigades being in the cen- 
ter, the grenadiers and light-infantry from right 
to left, according to seniority, and the flanks 
composed of the provincials. 

All sutlers who had passes and were not 
attached to regiments, were encamped on the 
ground in the center of the army, and a market 
was kept there for selling whatever they might 
bring for the use of the army. 

Colonel Haviland remained at his camp, oppo- 
site Fort Miller. 

Ittth. The Highlanders, with a detachment of 
500 provincials imder Lieut. -Col. Paysan, and 
two six-pounders, the whole commanded by 



* Knox's Journal. This was probably at tlie four-mile 
post below Brown's. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 231 

Col. Grant, moved out to Half-way brook, and 
built a stockade there, known as Fort Amherst. 
Captain Stark, with a company of rangers from 
the four-mile post, and a company of Indians, 
was ordered to join them."^ 

The same day the General was pleased to 
approve the following sentences of court-mar- 
tial : Andrew Yates, 1,000 lashes with a cat- 
o'-nine-tails ; John Halfworth, 500 lashes ; 
Thomas Smith, 1,000 lashes ; Samuel Pearce, 
1,000 lashes. " Smith is to receive his in the 
following manner: at 12 m. he is to be marched 
by a provost to the right of the line, and is to 
receive 100 lashes at the head of each regiment. 
A mate of the hospital will attend to the pun- 
ishment." 

15th. The 55th reo^iment, too^ether with fit- 
teen pieces of the royal artillery, moved up this 
da}^ to the seven-mile post, and reported to Col. 
Grant. 

18th. The first battalion of the Massachusetts 
moved up to Half-way brook, taking with tliem 
a large convoy of provisions, bateaux and 
stores. 

19th. The Royal, with the ]^ew Jersey regi- 
ment and Connecticut troops, marched to the 

* Wilson's Orderly Book, p, 24. Knox. 



232 LAKE GEOEGE AND 

seven-mile post under the command of Colonel 
Forster. Thence they proceeded, with the 
addition of two field-pieces, a company of 
rangers and some Indians, and took post about 
three miles this side of Lake George, where the 
Colonel proceeded to clear the ground, throw 
up an intrenchment and fortify it with the 
trees tliat were felled."^ Eight hundred men 
were detailed for mending the roads. 

21st. This day the stockade at the seven-mile 
post was finished. Lieut.-Col. Paysan remained 
in command, with 1,000 provincials and seven 
field-pieces. Provisions, bateaux and whale- 
boats continued to arrive at this point, which 
the Colonel was very alert in forwarding to the 
lake. The weather was intolerably hot, and 
the teams could scarcely perform their duty. 
The same day Gen. Amherst moved up with the 
bulk of the army to the lake, and encamped on 
its woody banks. The next day he traced out 
the plan of Fort George. 

27tli. Some boats of the enemy appeared on 
the lake near Diamond island, and attempted 
to surprise a couple of officers who were fishing 
there, but did not succeed. 

* Knox. * 







EXriNS OF rORT GEORGE. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN". 233 

July 1. The sloop of war Halifax, wliicli was 
scuttled last year, was raised. The troops were 
employed in constructing the stone fortress,"^ 
" which is of an irregular form, situated upon 
a rock ; has one front to the lake, and a large 
morass on the other sides. A casemate is to he 
built sufficient for 400 men, and there is plenty 
of good limestone and brick-clay on the spot." 
Sixteen men of the IS'ew Jersey regiment went, 
without leave, on the west side of the camp, to 
cut spruce. About a mile out they were 
attacked by a party of Canadians and Indians, 
who killed and wounded eleven of them ; the 
rest escaped. 

4:th. The engineers made great progress with 
the fort, having obtained a new supply of brick- 
layers and masons. A number of men were 
employed in making brick and lime. Tlie men 
were daily, at 5 a. m., practiced at target firing, 
and " the camp was not to be alarmed at the 
firing here or at the four-mile post, where they 
will fire at the same hour." 

6th. Capt. Loring, of the navy, in addition to 
raising and rigging the sloop Halifax, also built 
a raft to carry nine twelve-pounders. 



* Fort George. The fort was never finished. 
20* 



23i LAKE GEORGE AND 

21. Lord Amherst embarked with the troops. 
The force consisted of six battalions of regulars, 
nmnbering, officers included, 5,743 men, nine 
regiments of provincials, comprising 5,279 men, 
and 111 of the royal artillery, with fifty-four 
pieces of ordnance of various kinds, in all num- 
bering 11,133. For the last time a great army 
passed through the lake, and on the following 
day they landed near the spot where Aber- 
crombie had disembarked the year before. 

The French troops at Carillon numbered two 
thousand three hundred men, under the command 
of Bourlemaque. Montcalm had withdrawn the 
flower of the army to the defense of Quebec. 
He met the English near the landing, and 
skirmished up to the intrenchments. Amherst 
pressed on and took np a position at the saw- 
mill. The troops lay upon their arms that 
night. The same night Bourlemaque aband- 
oned the fort, with the largest part of his 
army, and took a position al)out ten miles down 
Lake Champlain, leaving Hebecourt and four 
hundred men, with orders to blow up the fort, 
and retire as soon as the English had estab- 
lished their first batteries. 

23d. The grenadiers, perceiving the intrench- 
ments to be deserted, immediately occupied them. 
Li the center of the works the French had erected 






mk 






I; I" 
'' I, 




LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 235 

a lofty cross, in celebration of the victory of tlio 
year before. On the cross was affixed a plate 
of brass, with the following inscription : 
" Pone principes eoruni sicut Oreb et Zeber et Zalmunna."* 

The French received them w^ith a shower of 
shot and shell, and at night made a sudden 
attack upon the trenches, killing and wounding 
sixteen, and caused such confusion that in the 
darkness of the night the British troops fired 
upon each other. Col. Townshend, deputy 
adjutant-general, a young and gallant officer, 
the Lord Howe of the army, was struck down 
by a cannon-shot. 

26th. The English approaches having been 
advanced within six hundred yards of the fort, 
and the batteries finished, Hebecourt retired with 
the French, from the contested walls of Caril- 
lon, having left every gun loaded and pointed, 
several mines charged for the destruction of 
the defenses, and a lighted fuse communicating, 
with the well stored powder magazine, which 
shortly blew up, with a tremendous explosion. 
The wooden barracks, the stores, and other 
combustible matter were burned. At daylight 
the next morning, a sergeant succeeded in strik- 
ing the French flag, and raising that of England 

*■ See Judges vii, 25, also, viii, 12, and Ps, Ixxxiii, 11. 



236 LAKE GEORGE AND 

in its place, which for the lirst time now waved 
over this gloomy fortress. Soon after a deta^ch- 
ment was sent in to extinguish the flames, which 
was speedily accomplished. Lord Amherst set 
to work at once to repair the fort, which was 
comparatively uninjured. Most of the ram- 
parts, the covered way, and the walls of the 
buildings remained.* He devoted himself to 
leveling his own siege works and completing 
the road from the shore. The loss of the Brit- 
ish, in the seige, was sev^enty-six killed and 
wounded. The French leisurely retired to Fort 
St. Frederick. 

" Peace, peace, my Lord," writes Doriel. " ISTo 
matter at what sacrifice, as regards boundaries. 
'Twill be so much gained, if the people will only 
work well when it is concluded." But it was 
not to be. There was to be no peace until the 
whole French government in America had sur- 
rendered to the Anglo-Saxon. 

Around Fort St. Frederick, which for twenty- 
eight years had been a menace and a challenge 
to the English colonies, as far as the eye could 

* Mr. Watson speaks of this venerable fortress as " with- 
out assimilation to any thing in America, and exhibiting 
the appearance of an ancient castle of Europe, enveloped in 
the mist of ages, and surrounded with the associations of 
centuries." 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 237 

extend, a rich and beautiful country met the 
view. The verdant turf, and wheat growing 
fields, extended from the water's edge back to the 
base of the mountains, and a population of fif- 
teen hundred people found shelter around tlie 
fort. A town was already built. They had their 
fruit trees, their gardens and their vineyards. 
An avenue swept in a wide curvature around 
the margin of the Lake, beyond which lay the 
principal street, extending into the country. 
The cellars were excavated from the solid rock, 
and their compact arrangement, and the narrow- 
ness of the avenue, find their counterpart in 
many an ancient village in Canada. The side- 
walks formed of flagging, the stones smooth and 
worn, still attest the generation who once 
thronged them in the busy scenes of life. Aspara- 
gus, shrubs, and the celebrated Adirondack 
grape flourished here. A church stood within 
the ramparts, and several stores furnished the 
convenient mart for commerce and the profita- 
ble exchange of civilized products for peltries. 
The ambitious politicians of the day dreamed of 
the time, subsequently attempted under Amherst 
and Skeene, when a new province might be 
founded, extendino; from St. Lawrence and the 
Connecticut, embracing the Green Mountains 
and the Champlain valley, with Crown Point as 



238 LAKE GEORGE AND 

its capital. The seignories of Aliania and Hoc- 
quart had been ah-eadj laid out and surveyed, 
the first extending down to Carillon, the latter 
covering the fertile valley of Otter creek. Had 
this event occurred, Northern New York would 
not now exhibit a vast expanse of uncultivated 
and unreclaimed wilderness. 

Kegiochne^ w^as the recognized boundary be- 
tween the Mohawk hunting grounds and those 
conceded to the St. Lawrence Indians. Had 
the French confined themselves to the country 
above this well established point, it is evident 
that the boundary line of New York and Canada 
would have been the parallel of latitude extend- 
ino; throuj^h from this point to Wells river, on 
the Connecticut ; and on the west to the Thou- 
sand Isles, opposite to Frontenac ; and at this 
day the magnificent province of Canada w'ould 
doubtless have been preserved as the most 
illustrious jewel of the French empire. But 
imbecility ruled the hour ; and from the time 
when the order was given for an army of 
occupation to possess Fort St. Frederick, the 
doom of Canada was sealed. 

Deep w^as the sorrow of the Canadians when 
they abandoned forever that lovel}'' land, adorned 

■"- Doc. vii, 576. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 239 

by their taste and industry, rescued by tliem 
from tlie dominion of the wolf and the bear, 
strengthened by their skill and toil, defended by 
their best blood, and endeared to their gallant 
hearts by memories of glorious victories. But 
it was impossible to resist the overwhelming 
advancing force. Their barges were therefore 
loaded, and the mournful procession moved 
down the lake into the narrows, until, in round- 
ing Regio Rock, for tlie last time and for- 
ever, their country disappeared from their view. 
The French retired to Isle au ISToix, where, 
with one hundred pieces of cannon, thirty-five 
hundred men, and four armed vessels, com- 
manded by naval officers and a picked crew, 
they presented an impregnable front on the very 
threshold of Canada. 

Meanwhile Major Rogers was sent forward 
with two hundred rangers, to feel of the enemy 
and seize upon some safe position, which he 
was to hold until relieved by the advancing 
army. 

August 4. Lord Amherst arrived and took 
possession of Fort St. Frederick with its guns, 
stores and intrenching tools. A portion of the 
works had been blown up three days before by 
the retreating French. After encamping his 
troops, he proceeded, in accordance with his 



240 LAKE GEOKGE. 

instructions from Pitt, to trace out and build a 
new fort, to be in future time known as Ckown 
PomT, " which, from its situation and strengtli, 
will most effectually cover the whole country, 
and insure its quiet and peaceable possession." 
Although never completed, this fort is said to 
have cost the English government more tlian 
two millions of pounds sterling. The ramparts 
were about twenty-five feet thick and nearly the 
same in height, and were built of solid masonry. 
The curtains varied in length, from fifty-two to 
one hundred yards ; and the whole circuit, 
measuring around the ramparts and including 
the bastions, was eight hundred and fifty-three 
yards. A broad ditch surrounded the work. 
On the north was a gate, and from the north- 
east bastion a covered way leading to the water. 
But the glory of Crown Point is departed. 
The cattle ruminate in its bastion, sheep feed 
upon its walls, and the wild grape may be 
plucked from the ruins of its magazine. 

" There is given, 
Unto the things of earth which time hath bent, 
A spirit's feeling, and, where he hath leant 
His hand, but broke his scythe, there is a power 
And magic in the ruined battlement, 
For which the palace of the present hour. 
Must yield its pomp, and wait till ages are its dower." 




4ym 



LAKE GEORGE. 

FORT WILLIAM HENRY HOTEL 

IS OPEN FOR THE RECEPTION OF GUESTS. 

This Hotel has been completely rebuilt and refurnished, and 

now compares favorably with any first class Hotel in 

Europe or America. It is situated on the site of 

Fort William Henry, adjoining Fort George 

and the old French Battle Ground. 

The Building contains 450 rooms, 

which may be had in 

S'liites or Private Parlors, as Desired. 

Water is carried to every part of the House, wliicli is 
supplied with 

COLD AND WARM BATHS. 

The entire House is brilliantly lig-hted with gas made on the 

premises. 

A Celebrated Band is Engaged for the Season. 

THE TELEGRAPH 

Connects with all lines through the State, and gives reports 

of the 

STOCK MA'^KET THREE TIMES A DAY. 

A Livery Stable is connected with the Hotel, 

Together with an abundance of stable and barn room, 
for private horses and carriages. The drives on the Lake 
shore and through the surrounding country are unsur- 
passed. 

ITRElSrCII COACHES, 

(With seats on top and rear) connect with the Glens 
Falls Railroad. Time, from Glens Falls, one hour. 

T. ROESSLE & SON, Proprietors. 

A 













^mem&i"Pi 



3|ii:i"i:':i!!;;;' '•■S'M 






LAKE GEORGE. 



LAKE HOUSE. 

Open for the Reception of Guests from June 1 to Oct. 15. 

The Lake House is situated in sight of Fort William Henrj' and 
Fort George and the old French Burying and Battle Grounds. The 
House is furnished in a style not surpassed by any City Hotel. The 
building is 300 feet in length, and contains 

Over 100 Rooms and Private Parlors. 

The Rooms are airy, large, and in Suits or Private Parlors, as may 
be desired. The House contains two spacious Piazzas— one fronting 
on the Lake, and giving a magnificent view of Lake and Mountain 
Scenery. On the broad Lawn, as it descends towards the Lake, are 
two fine Cottages — one containing nine and the other three rooms. 

THE STEAMER MINNE-HA-HA 

Leaves the Lake House dock every morning (Sundays excepted) at 8 
o'clock, for Ticonderoga— connecting with Lake Champlain Steamers 
going North and South— returning in the afternoon ut on the arrival 
of the Lake Champlain Steamers, and lands passengers at the Lake 
House dock immediately after lauding at the Fort William Henry 
Hotel. 

STAGES LEAVE THE LAKE HOUSE EACH DAY, 

Connecting at Glens Falls with all trains for Saratoga, Troy, Albany, 
New York and Boston, giving passengers choice of seats. The House 
is constantly supplied with 

Brook Trout, Venison and Birds, in their Season. 

And the Proprietor will at all times be prepared to furnish Game 
Dinners to parties. 

GAME DINNERS AT TABLE D'HOTE ON SUNDAYS. 

j^° A Livery Stable is connected with the Hotel. Persons wishing 
to bring their horses and carriages can have irivate stables and car- 
riage houses. The drives on the Lake Shore and through the sur- 
rounding country are unsurpassed. 

|^°" Lake George is a good point of departure for the Adirondacks. 

Board per Day, $3.50; Board per Week, $14 to 

$17.50. 

H. J. EOCKWELL, 

Proprietor. 



GLENS FALLS, LAKE GEORGE AND CHESTER 
STAGE COMPANY. 

New Coaches and Eqiiipments, Fast Horses. 

LAKE GEORGE PASSENGERS 

Who take this route will leave the Railroad at 

G-rtEAT FALLS, 

And, passing over the Plankroad, will witness the exquisite river 

sceuerj' of 

GLENS FALLS, 

So graphicallj^ described in Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans ;" 
The scenes of the Border Conflicts iu the 

Old. 3F*x*oxi.ola. "X^STct^ir. 

And across the battle ground of 

DIESKAU AND SIR WILLL4M JOIIXSOX. 

The Stages connect with the three trains going Forth, and the 
Mid-day and Evening trains going South. 

The morning line also runs to 

WARREKSBURGH, CHESTER, POTTERSVILLE, SCHROON LAKE. 

From which place good Liveries are always iu readiness 
to carry passengers to the 

ADIRONDAGKS, LONG LAKE, RAQUETTE LAKE AND 
MOUNT TAHAWAS. 



E. PUTNAM, Superintendent. 



LAKE GEORGE. 



THE STEAMER 





^ 



i ^S) 



e^ 




Capt. E. S. HARRIS, 

MAKES DAILY TRIPS THROUGH THE LAKE, 

connecting with the boats on 

Lake Champlain for Montreal, Quebec, Niagara, 

White and Franconia Mountains, 

Mount Mansfield, 

and the Railway to 
SARATOGA, TROY, ALBANY and NEW YORK. 

THE 

"MI]Sr]^E-HA-HA" 

Leaves her clock, at Caldwell, every morniug, Sundays excepted, 

at 7X o'clock— steams down the Lake among the islards, 

and through to Ticonderoga, connecting with 

LAKE CHAMPLAIN STEAMERS 

GOING NORTH AND SOUTH, 

Returning in the afternoon upon the arrival of the Lake Champlain 
Steamers, arriving at her dock at the Fort William Henry Hotel at 6 
o'clock, P. M. 

Passengers by the HUDSON RIVER and HARLEM RAILROADS 
(four trains daily), and by the DAY BOATS, arrive at the Lake in time 
for Tea same day; by the HUDSON RIVER STEAMERS (night boats) 
in time for Dinner next day. 



LAKE GEORGE. 




labiDan Muttse^ 



BOLTO:tT. 



This well known House is situated on 

GANOUSKIE OE NOETHWEST BAY, 

TEN MILES FROM CALDWELL. 

Affords Accommodation for Sixty People. 
Situate opposite tlie 

And its Location is the most delightful upon the Lake. 



S. W. CLEMANS, 

Proprietor 



LAKE GEORGE 



Visitors at 

LAKE GEORGE, 

By driving down to 

FOUR MILES ON THE PLANKROAD, 

Will pass the battle ground of 

Gens. Johnson and Dieskau, Bloody Pond, and 

Eocky Brook, 

The place of the ambuscade and death of 

COL. WILLIAMS AND KING HENDRICK, IN SEPT , 1755. 
They can also visit the place of the 

STOCKADE AT THE FOUR MILE POST, 

Built by Abercrombie, in 1758, 

And the scene of an engagement and capture 

BY THE FEENCH AND INDIANS IN THE SAME YEAR. 

And by driving to the 

Oorning Ore IBed, 

About a mile distant, persons may witness the interesting 

process of 

Refreshments of all kinds at the Hotel, and dinners for parties got- 
ten up at very short notice. 

GEORGE BROWN, Proprietor. 



NORTHERN NEW YORK. 

FOR SALE! 

MAP OF THE 

GREAT WILDERNESS 

OF 

NORTHERN NEW YORK. 
Engraved on Stone in the Finest Style, 

And printed for convenience in thirty-six sections, 

Together with a Leather Case for holding the same. 

IPIRICE $6.00. 



WEED, PARSONS & CO,, 

ALBANY, N. Y. 



PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK. 



MPOTIT^S HOTOl 



^« 



This Hotel is particularly desirable for a Summer Resort. 
Situated upon the banks of 

Its broad piazzas offer beautiful views of 

CUMBERLAND BAY, 

Celebrated as the scene of the 

Naval Engagement of 1814. 

Wliile from the Promenade on the roof a fine view can be obtained, 
including the village, the surrounding counti*y, and in the distance the 

aEEEN MOUNTAINS AND THE ADIRONDAOKS, 

Which together with the pure water, the beautiful Flower, Pleasure 
and Croquet Grounds; the pleasant drives; the spacious and well 
ventilated rooms, oft'er attractions to the seeker alter health and pleas- 
ure that cannot be surpassed. 



A new and spacious 

In connection with the Hotel affords ample accommodations to per- 
sons wishing to bring with them their horses and carriages. 

A STEAM FERRY 

Will make daily trips between Plattsburgh and St. Albans Bat, 
passing betvveen North and South Hero Islands, and touching at 
the best fishing localities there are to be found on Lake Champlain. 



^o 



Sportsmen 

En-route for the Adirondacks will find private conveyances at 
Plattsburgh to take them to Paul Sjiith's, Milote Baker's, Mar- 
tin's, Virgil Bartlett's and other forest resorts, at as low rates as 
are offered on any other route. 

D. L. FOUQUET & SON, 

Proprietors. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 



LAKE CHAMPLAIN 



ADIRONDACK, - - - Capt. Wm. H. Flagg. 

CANADA, ----- Capt. Wm. Anderson 

UNITED STATES, - - Capt. J. C. Babbitt. 

MONTREAL, . - - - Capt. Henry Mayo. 

Make close connections for 

LAKE GEOEGE, 

Mount Mansfield, White and Franconia Mountains, 
Montreal, Ogdensburgh, Quebec, 

ADIROl^DAOK MOUNTAINS; 

AND THE 

The day boat enables the tourist to see Plattsburgh, 
Cumberland Bay — the scene of McDonough's victory in 
1814 — Burlington, Regio Rock (Split Rock), Kanondoro (the 
Narrows), Og-haronde (Windmill Point), Point au Cheva- 
lure (Crown Point), Carillon (Ticonderoga), Mt, Defiance, 
Canaghsione (the Two Rocks), Putnam's Rock (Fiddler's 
Elbow), places renowned in American History. Connects at 

WHITEHALL 

with Morning and Evening Trains on the Great Southern 
and Western route for all parts. 



O. C. IfllXCIIEI^I., ^upt., 

Burlington, Vt. 



ADIRONDACK RAILWAY. 

Now open to THURMAN, a distance of 40 miles. Strangers 
sliould not leave Saratoga, before they have taken a trip on the 
Adirondack Railway to 

T KE XJ R, lv£ ^ IST, 

A DISTANCE OF FORTY MILES, 

And see for themselves its picturesque scenery, including the 

Kayaderosseras Mountain, the "Potash," Constitu- 
tion Hill, Phelps Bay, the Sacandaga Rapids 
the High Bridge, loo feet above the 
water, Jessup's Little Falls, 
and the ronnantic 

LAKE OF LUZERNE. 

Also, the 
VALLEY OF THE UPPER HUDSON, 

The most beautiful country in the world. 

EXCURSION TRAINS 

Leave Saratoga Springs daily at 9.45 o'clock a. bi. and 3.02 
p. M. Returning, leave Thurman daily at 8 o'clock A. M. and 3 
o'clock p. M., connecting with trains North and South on the Rens- 
selaer and Saratoga Railroad. 

Coaches connect at Thurman with Lake George, Schroon and 
the Adirondacks. 

THE ADIRONDACK EXPRESS 

Runs daily between Saratoga and intermediate places to 

Luzerne. 

S. M. SEYMOUR, Superintendent. 



LUZERNE, NEW YORK- 



^^OCKWELL'sWoTEL. 



J 



J 



This Hotel is situated among the ru ged hills of 

NORTHERN NEW YORK. 

It has accommodations for about one hmidred people. 

FISH AND GAME DINGERS 

May be relied on at all times in their season. 



FINE iniSHING- j5^I<rJD BO^TIIN-GJ- 

ON THE 

HUDSON AND SAOANDAGA EIYERS, 

and on the celebrated 

I.AKE OF I^UZERIVE. 

Only twenty miles from Saratoga Springs and ten miles 

from Lake George, 



June, 1868. Proprietor. 



mnvz mz Of ^nmmz, 



BETWEEN 



NEW YORK AND ALBANY. 



Leaves Pier foot of Canal Street, New York, Daily 
except Sundays, at 6 o'clock P. M. , 



Captain S. R. Roe, 

Leaves Albany Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 o'clock 

p. M. 

Captain W. H. Christopher, 

Leaves Albany Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 



Close connections made with the Rensselaer and Saratoga Rail- 
road at Albany, to and from Saratoga, Lake George, Luzerne, 
White Mountains and Adirondacks. 

BAGGAGE CHECKED THROUGH. PASSENGERS CARRIED TO BOATS FREE. 

J. W. HAROOURT, Agent. 
B 



SARATOGA SPRINGS 



THE 




LARENDON 



^ v^ 



} 



OTEL, 



IS NOW 



OPEN FOR THE SEASON. 

No pains have been spared to make tliis well known Hotel 
perfect in every respect. 

CHARLES E. LEXj^ND, 

Proprietor. 



WASHINGTON SPRING. 

The "Washington Spring," situated in the grounds of 
the "Clarendon Hotel," has for more than sixty (GO) 
years occupied a prominent place among the celebrated 
waters of Saratoga. 

It can be used at all hours of the day, by all classes of 
invalids, while to those who are in perJect health, it is a 
delightful and invigorating beverage. 

Put up in Pint Bottles only, and carefully packed in 
cases of four dozen each for shipping. 



CHARLES E. LELAND, 

Proprietor. 



SARATOGA SPRINGS. 



CONGRESS HALL, 

Erected on the site of the Old Congress Hall, 
Adjoining Congress Spring, 

AT A COST OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, 

AND 

COVERING OVER THREE ACRES OF GROUND, 

IS NOW OPEN. 

The front is 400 X 48 feet, five stories high, with French 

roof. The building is divided into seven fire 

proof compartments, and has been 

erected in the most thorough 

and substantial manner. 

THE ^'"INGS ARE 230 BY 50 FEET. 

It contains GOO Rooms, eacli furnished with Bells, Gas, 

and water. 

ONE HUJSTDREr) T>RI^^TE PARLORS. 

The Dining Room is 212 by 50 feet. 

The Public Parlors, Reading and Reception Rooms 

and Offices, are on a scale unsurpassed, it 

is believed, in this country. 



H. H. HATHORN, Proprietor. 



HUDSON mm & HARLEM RAILEOADS 

FROM 

isr E A^T IT o R, k:. 

The 8 o'clock Express Train 

via 

HUDSON RIVER RAILROAD 

Connects at TROY with mid-day Trains for 
SARATOGA, Ft. EDWARD AND LAKE GEORGE. 



11 o'clock Express via Harlem and 11.30 Express via Hudson 
River Railroad, connect at TROY with evening trains for 

Saratoga, Whitehall, Lake George, and Steamers on 

Lake Champlain to 



:m: o 3sr T p2,e: ^ L. 



3.45 via Hudson River, connects at TROY with Sleeping Car for 
Montreal. 

«.30r. M. and 11 p. m., via Hudson River, with Sleeping Car 
attached, connect at TROY with morning trains for Saratoga,"Lake 
George and Lake Champlain. 



FROM TROY TO NEW YORK. 

9.45 A. M., 1 1 .30 A. M., 3.45 p. m. via Hudson River Railroad. 
4.15 P. M. via Harlem. 9.15 p. m., with Sleeping Car attached. 

I M. TOTJCEY. 

Stqjt. Hudson R. R. R. 

J. C. BTJCKHOUT, 

Siipt. Harlem R. R. 



ALBANY, N. Y. 



DELAVAN HOUSE, 



OPEN ALL THE YEAR ROUND 



HAS 350 ROOMS, 



INCLUDING TWENTY PRIVATE PARLORS! 



Families or parties travelinof for pleasure will always 
find here the conveniences and comforts of a 



FIEST CLASS HOTEL. 

Meals at all liours on arrival of tlie 
Trains or Boats- 



CHAS. E. LELAND, 

Proprietor. 



ALBANY, N, Y. 



Durkee & Jenkins, 

ALBANY, JV. T„ 



AND 



STATIONERS. 



Tli80lo£ical and Siiiiflay Sctiool PiiMicatioiis. 

BLANK Am SCHOOL BOOKS. 

Orders by Mail promptly and carefully 

attended to. 



PAOLI DURKEE, 

CLARENCE T. JENKINS, 

CORNELIUS E. DURKEE. 






Great Northern and Southern Route 

Connects with all Lines and Points. 



TR^IJSrS GOTNGr NORTH. 

Leave Albany, 7.10 a. m,, 12.50 p.m., 5.10 p.m. 

Schen'tady,. 7.30 " " 4.20 " 

Troy, 7.30 " 1.10 " 5.20 " 

Saratoga,... 9.10 " 2.50 " 7.10 " 

Ft. Edward, 9.53 " 3.40 " 8.00 " 

Glens Falls, 10.15 " 4.05 " 8.25 " 

Arrive Whitehall, . 11.22 " " 9.53 " 



TRAIN'S &OIJSrG- SOUTH. 

Leave Whitehall, -.. 6.00 a.m., 4.08 p.m. 

Glens Falls,. 6.50 " 12.50 p. m , 4.40 " 

Ft Edward,. 7.13 " l.iO " 5.00 " 

Saratoga,.... 8.10 " 2.05 " 5.50 " 

Arrive Troy, 9.40 " 3.40 " 7.30 " 

Schen'tady,. 9.55 ". 3.55 " 7.40 " 



MORNING AND EVENING TRAINS 

Connect at Saratoga -with Adirondack Railroad, at Fort 
Edward with Glens Falls Railroad and coaches for Lake 
George, and at Whitehall with steamers on Lake Champlain. 

I. V. BAKER, 

Superintendent. 




BEW ROUTE 

To or from the 

WEST, SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST. 

Makinij all BROAD GAUGE between 

ALBANY AND ST. LOUIS. 

ONLY DIRECT ROUTE TO 

Sharon Springs, Howe's Cave and Oooperstown. 

For beautj', variety and extent, IIowc'8 Cave is only equaled by the 
Mammoth Cave m Kentncky. 

CONDENSED TIME TABLE. 





■WEST. 






EAST. 








BREAKFAST. 


Binglinniton,Le. 


7.30 A. M. 


2.30 P. M 


Albnny,. . . . 


Le. 1.30 P. M. 


8. 00 A. M. 


nuinliridv;c,. Ar. 


9.10 do 


4.05 do 


Howe's Cave, 


Ar. 3.10 do 


0.45 do 


l!iindilla, . . do 


9.37 do 


4.30 do 


Cobleskill, . , 


do 3.30 do 


10.00 do 


Onponia, . . do 


10.27 do 


5.15 do 


Colliers, . . . 


du 4.58 do 


11.40 do 


Colliers, ... do 


10.42 do 


5.30 do 


Itainl>ri(li;<', . 


do C.37 do 


1.20 A.M. 


Coblpskill,. . do 


12.12 P.M. 


G.59 do 


Binghamloii, 


do 8.10 do 


3.00 do 


Howe's Cave, do 


12.27 do 


7.13 do 








Seholinrie,. . do 


12.35 do 


7.20 do 








Albany, ... do 


2.25 do 


8.45 do 



J. W. VAN VALKENBTJRGH, Supt. 



."^SIcix) '^Book^ 



PUBLISHED BY 



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A NEW YORK STORY. 
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Between Europe and Asia. A Week at Capri. 

Winter- Life in .St. Petersburg. A Trip to Ischia. 

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ADMIRAL D. G. FARRAGUT, 

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